I'm confused..are dwarf putters freshwater or brackish water? I've seen them refered to both ways. And would they be happy in a 10 gal...if so who would be a good tankmates?
dwarf puffer fish
- Thread starter nursie
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The dwarves sold most commonly are freshwater. They will tolerate salt about the same way a neon does--okay for the short term, not good in the long run. Puffers are discussed in the brackish forum here on AC simply to keep puffer talk in the same location.
10 is okay for one or two. I wouldn't plan on keeping many tank mates with them, as they can be very nippy, and it's hit or miss. I had some in with a variety of fish, and they ignored the bristlenose, harassed the rainbow shark, chewed up the cories. They do best with a variety of crunchy foods, though this is not as critical with dwarves as it is with the larger puffers. A visually complex tank is crucial! Lots of plants and hiding places.
10 is okay for one or two. I wouldn't plan on keeping many tank mates with them, as they can be very nippy, and it's hit or miss. I had some in with a variety of fish, and they ignored the bristlenose, harassed the rainbow shark, chewed up the cories. They do best with a variety of crunchy foods, though this is not as critical with dwarves as it is with the larger puffers. A visually complex tank is crucial! Lots of plants and hiding places.
Aren't Dwarf Puffers crazy small? I was interested in maybe converting my own 10 gallon. Will only 2 really fit in that tank? I would think more like 6 based on size. Although with no experience I wouldn't no if their activity level is why you would want less.
Dwarf puffers max out at about 1 inch in length--they are very small. But, they are fairly messy eaters, and can be extremely territorial. A trio would be the absolute max I'd put in a 10--and that only if I had a single male with 2 females.
Mine were in with kuhli loaches, and I never saw them go after the loaches. But--the loaches may compete with the puffers for snails (my kuhli's go after snails with glee. The 40 happened to have a huge population of snails that were mostly in the substrate, so it wasn't as big a deal.)
Mine were in with kuhli loaches, and I never saw them go after the loaches. But--the loaches may compete with the puffers for snails (my kuhli's go after snails with glee. The 40 happened to have a huge population of snails that were mostly in the substrate, so it wasn't as big a deal.)
Between the 3 clowns and 3 kuhlis on the 55, I have a few snails there, but mainly the MTS's that come out after dark. A few of the ramshorns, but not many.
The 10 gal exploded with snails becasue there is no one to eat them or the eggs. Maybe I could do a puffer tank. That would be different.
The 10 gal exploded with snails becasue there is no one to eat them or the eggs. Maybe I could do a puffer tank. That would be different.
I reccomend (that is, if you do get brackish) that gobies work pretty well in the tank- I have 2 little bumblebee gobies in my tank with my puffers, and the puffers don't bother them at all. They're kinda cute, actually!
Snails never survive in my puffer tank- hehe.
Snails never survive in my puffer tank- hehe.
A trio of DPs will do fine in a ten, as suggested before. A 15 would be even better. They are purely FW fish and breed well in captivity, most easily in heavily planted tanks, with Java Moss for a swawning medium.
Most DPs will tolerate Otocinclus cats. Many will toerate algae-eating shrimp or ghost shrimp, but not all.
Most DPs will tolerate Otocinclus cats. Many will toerate algae-eating shrimp or ghost shrimp, but not all.