Dwarf puffer - how many and which gender?

I am thinking about turning my 10 gallon aquarium into a dwarf puffer tank. I have to wait until I find the fish tthat I have, new homes.Does anyone have any advice on the puffers, like how many and what gender. I would like to have 2 or 3.I would also like to try live plants for the first time.Any advice on plant care?

 

Good afternoon,

These links may give you a few tips on Puffers:

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/general-guide-to-puffer-care.33066/

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazine/mar09/dwarfpuffer.htm


As for plants, I highly recommend that you create a new thread in the Aquarium Plant section with your questions. It will help you to receive more responses.

Ken

 

I know they like a lot of plants

 

Thank you both for tue info. I am going to keep my tank how it is for now. When I lose all of the fish in my tank, I am going to fully restart the tank with live plant. I will cycle it with snails so the snails can reproduce. That way the puffers will have a lot to eat!

 

I have a 10 gallon with golden dwarf bee-bee puffers......I've had a hard time with them...I have 5 of them and thankfully no issues any longer.....they are just adorable and soooooooooo friendly.....I've got tons and tons of fake plants in there.....mine don't go crazy for snails...which I know they need to keep their teeth trim( I have rams horn in anther tank.....they love black worms and blood worms.....

 

That is a very nice tank. Now I know I can use fake plants if the reals ones don't work out

Okay a new idea just hit me. I am thinking about keeping my 10 gallon how it is, and buying a 5-6 gallon tank for the puffer. I think the Fluvel ChI 5 gallon looks nice but any would work I think. Also, could I keep an Otto cat in the tank with the puffer?

 

Otos do best in groups of 6 or more. I wouldn't recommend trying to keep an oto alive by itself.

One dwarf puffer would be fine in a 5-6g tank. live or plastic plants- doesn't matter as long as the puffer can feel like he/she is hidden. Also if you only get one then the sex doesn't matter. It's hard to sex juvie dwarf puffers and my pet store usually only carries juvies.

I have 1 dwarf puffer in a 10 gallon with 3 otos. I should have more than 3 otos, but so far I have no casualties.

Not all puffers will be ok with sharing its tank with an oto. It really depends on the aggressiveness of the fish.

Also- Lorabell, that's so awesome for you that you haven't had problems with aggression. It is very rare. I have found keeping 2 in a 10 gallon is all i'm comfortable with. They need to be able to stake out a territory of their own. Do you know if you only have 1 male?

 

Alright. Would there anything that could be part of the cleaning crew(along with me) that won't end up being the puffers lunch?

 

you might try a nerite snail. Their shell covers most of their flesh so the puffer might not be able to get to it.

You might have luck with a mystery snail too- my puffers don't touch snails that are bigger than they are.

Each puffer has a different personality and will tolerate different things. Also, as a puffer ages it can tend to get more aggressive. so you will have to be very careful with the snail.

 

Okay. BTW, do puffers do well in tall hexagon tanks(around 15 in wide and 20 tall)?

 

I like to personally steer away from taller tanks for puffers. you need plants that are tall enough to go to the top of the tank. if you have fake plants that will reach the top- then you will be fine.

 

Alright. I am thinking also that I could get a hexagon tank, transfer the fish in the 10 gallon to it and put the puffer in the 10g. How many puffers could go in a 20 gallon high hexagon tank vs a 10 gallon rectangular tank. (sorry about all these ideas. I am just exploring my options)

 

Otos do best in groups of 6 or more. I wouldn't recommend trying to keep an oto alive by itself.

I have done that for a year with mine andhe actullay has thrived and it didnt bother him

 

I didn't say it wasn't possible.

but be prepared to have casualties.

 

Okay. If I got a tall hexagon that is 15-20 gallons should I move my community tank in there and have a puffer in the 10. Or should I put puffers in the 15-20?

 

I have no idea of the sex of any of them.......one thing though ...they were all purchassed at the same time.....all 5 of them.......and I really believe that with all the plants...its way big enough.....they are teenie tiny fish....I have never had any aggression problems......even when I feed....I make sure there is more than enough food....once in a while 2 of them will grab the same worm....but that's about it.....

 

I think I will try to get a hexagon tall tank. And I will try puffers in it but if it doesn't work I will switch them around with my other fish tank. If I don't get a hexagon I will just get a 5gallon.
BTW, lorabell you have five dwarf puffers in a 10 gallon? And they get along? That is awesome!

 

lorabell- juvies can get along just fine together in a 10 gallon, but as soon as they become adults the aggression sets in. They definitely look like juvies from the pictures so you probably can't sex them yet. When they get full grown you might notice things like a dark stripe on the belly or a wrinkle behind the eye (male). The males tend to be more yellow with bigger spots on them also. If you end up with more than one male in the tank, I personally don't think it is planted enough to keep the males from killing each other. just be careful and keep your eyes on them.

Fish Keeper- I see you have a clown loach in your 10g.. I would recommend moving your community tank over to your new hex. The loach (if it hasn't already) will get way to big for your 10 gallon. you are also going to stunt his growth and cause it stress if you keep it in there very much longer. The 10 gallon would be plenty big enough for you to get 2 dwarf puffers.

I think you would be most pleased with this setup because then you can give the puffers individualized attention. I had 2 puffers in a 10 gallon at one time and it can be quite difficult to feed them without messying up the tank. You can't just drop a cube of bloodworms in- I had to hand feed mine with a baster. To properly feed puffers (without overfeeding or under feeding) it requires a lot of time on your part. I'm not sure how lorabell properly feeds her puffers with having 5 of them. I found it fairly difficult with only 2.

 

The clown loach passed away a week ago and I knew he could get big. He was only an inch long so I was going to move him Into a bigger tank as he grew. I have decided that the hex may not work out well in the only place I have room for one. I have a final idea so tell me what u think. A five gallon Fluval ChI with one DP. I am going to cycle the tank with just snails so they can reproduce so the DP has a meal. I am also going to see if my puffer is okay with shrimp or if he will eat them. I will put in a ghost shrimp in and if it isn't killed, I will add some nice shrimp. I will try using only the filter that comes with, but if it needs more filtration I will add a 5 gallon filter so that will make 10 gallons of filtration! Thanks for the help.

 

I didn't say it wasn't possible.

but be prepared to have casualties.

I know I just thought I would share my experience and his in my 50g

 

I think 1 dwarf puffer in a 5 gallon would be a very happy dwarf puffer!

Snail idea is very good! Your puffer may-may not eat them. Also keep in mind as a puffer gets more mature he/she will become more adventurous in their diet! As juvies they might not see snails as food, but as they become adults- they may become adventurous enough to nibble! Same with the shrimp. (so I wouldn't spend a fortune on shrimp if I were you until you know for sure)

My puffers killed the shrimp I bought within 24 hours as juvies. Didn't eat them... just decided to kill them

I think your idea sounds great!!

 

Thankyou. Just one more question. The fluval chI doesn't have a lid, so should I make/find one or will it be fine

O I also just remembered something. Do most petstores carry frozen bloodworms, and what do I feed them besides that

 

yes, you should get a lid- they can be jumpers.

I have had good luck with beefheart + (frozen)... I tried brine shrimp but I think they are too small for the puffer to see. Mostly frozen bloodworms and frozen beefheart.

oh, and snails

 

Okay thanks for the help

 

My puf tank has been set up for a very long time.......Ive had these for way over a year.....before they were in here they were in a 5 gallon hex.....that too was set up for a very long time.....no offense but lol...there isn't even any more room for one more plant in there....this has worked well for me......I also as stated before they all went in both tanks all of the same time......I also think this helped.......the only time I EVER see any type of conflict with them is when 2 may grab at the same worm(blackworm or blood worm) and all that is is accidently.......my fish are very well fed...this too also I believe helps

lorabell- juvies can get along just fine together in a 10 gallon, but as soon as they become adults the aggression sets in. They definitely look like juvies from the pictures so you probably can't sex them yet. When they get full grown you might notice things like a dark stripe on the belly or a wrinkle behind the eye (male). The males tend to be more yellow with bigger spots on them also. If you end up with more than one male in the tank, I personally don't think it is planted enough to keep the males from killing each other. just be careful and keep your eyes on them.

 

I have 3 dwarf puffers in my 40 gallon breeder with 4 GBR, some ottos, a cory cat and some tetras. I know they love to eat snails but when there are no more snails left I guess they eat the sinking wafers or flakes I put in there. (They must be eating something because they are still alive and none of my fish are missing! lol). They get along really well with my other fish and I have never had a problem with them. My tank is moderately planted and there are places for them to hard (as I don't seem them very often).

 

In my personal opinion- if your puffers are hiding then they are not comfortable in their tank.

If you don't mind me asking Pookie, how long have you had the puffers in that tank?

 

HI everyone. Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, I have been busy! I just wanted you all to know that I have a 5 gallon aquarium set up and running! It Is about two weeks up and running. I am hoping that it will be ready for snails in the next few days, and hopefully a puffer sometime in the next 2 weeks! I am so excited! I might try a ghost shrimp too!

 

the shrimp may turn into foodor was that the point

 

No I planned to try a shrimp and if it ends as a meal, oh well I guess. Quick question would I be able to keep a figure 8 puffer instead of a dwarf puffer?

 

No I planned to try a shrimp and if it ends as a meal, oh well I guess. Quick question would I be able to keep a figure 8 puffer instead of a dwarf puffer?

No, they require bigger tanks. Puffs will eat snails and shrimp so watch for over feeding.

 

Okay. I went to my LFS today and spotted two tiny dwarf puffers(dwarf neon puffers is what the LFS call them LOL) the worker said that they were sick and were being treated, and that they weren't for sale yet. I am going to check back at the end if the week(Thursday-Friday and see if I can buy them!!I also found a neat driftwood piece that makes a natural cave in the aquarium! Once the puffers are in I will try some pics!

 

If the stored called them "neon" then I bet they are very young GSPs. Many/most stores know nothing about puffers. Google Images "green spotted puffer", "dwarf puffer", and then "figure 8 puffer" and see which one the store fish looks like. And keep in mind that a 5 gallon will only support a DP. An F8 puffer will grow more than 3 inches and requires brackish water and at least a 15-20g minimum tank. And a GSP will gro to 6" and will need brackish and eventually marine water and at least a 30-40g tank.

Good luck and hope this helps.

Here are the general profiles of each fish in case you haven't seen them.

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazine/jan09/figurepuffer.htm
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazine/nov08/greenspottedpuffer.htm
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazine/mar09/dwarfpuffer.htm

 

when I looked at them they looked a lot like dwarfs and about the same size.And the worker seemed knowledgeable about fish (for once!)I will check that they are dwarfs before I buy them.

 

I personally would not put a figure 8 in a 5 gallon. they need more space and they will be a bit trickier because they like to have salinity as they grow.

 

Thanks forthe help. I really fell in love with the pair they have now so I am trying to finish the cycleing in my tank quickly so they don't get sold to someone else(not for sale until treated for ich)I have some gravel from my old tank in the 5gallon.I also put some water from the old in the new. I am going to try tetra safe start to if I can get my hands on some! Thanks for all the help!

 

For tetra safe start you have to have some sort of ammonia for it to feed off of.. do you have anything alive inthe tank right now? Tetra safe start is supposed to be use when cycling your tank with fish.

 

Nothing live but have have been putting fish food in. So you are saying that I would have to get the gush then use TSS?

 

Sorry I meant fish not gush(LOL bad typer)

 

I think fish food should work.. try searching for Tetra Safe Start on the forum- I know there are TONS of threads on it