Solo Pea Puffer in 3 gallon open top aquarium?

A

AquaLand

AC Members
Jul 1, 2011
13
0
0
Greetings!

I told my parents I wanted a pea puffer, and they gave me a 3 gallon open top tank because it was prettier than the 5 gallon kit I requested for my birthday.

Would a single pea puffer be alright in a planted 3 gallon as long as water was kept clean with good filtration and water changes?

I really, really want to keep a pea puffer but I don't want to be rude and make my parents exchange the tank if I don't have to.

Would a pea puffer jump out of an open top tank?
 
i believe a pair ( M/F ) in a well planted 3 gallon COULD work but i would rather solo for a 3 gallon.. add some shrimps ( see if he gets along with shrimps? )
 
Single dwarf puffers require an absolute minimum of 5 gallons each.

It's deceptive, because they are so small, but their bio loads will not allow them to be kept in anything smaller without ill effects on their health. Those extra 2 gallons (almost twice the size!) will make all the difference. It can be filtered and heated more efficiently as well as be properly equipped to handle the bio load of the puffer. Water changes cannot make up for water volume.

Your dwarf puffer will be much, much happier in the 5 gallon. Sometimes, you have to think about the best interest of the fish and not the aesthetics! You can make the 5 gallon just as beautiful, and I'm sure that your parents will understand if you explain to them that these tiny bundles of joy need those extra 2 gallons!
 
Water changes can most assuredly make up for water volume, because water changes are water volume. You can do a bit of simple math and prove it to yourself. In the case of highly active, fast swimming and or high strung fish the increase in volume is not enough since they require a minimum amount of space to behave normally and to provide security and/or a safe place to run if they need it. Pea Puffers are slow and deliberate enough that at their small max size a 3 gal would be no problem to keep one comfortable if the tank was suitably planted and scaped. If you changed a gallon twice a week there should be no problem keeping water quality acceptable if the filter is properly maintained as well. The problems start when you can't make that second change, believe me I know! As far as Shrimp they're great to put into Puffer tanks. Just remember to add a few every day, but not too many as they will pollute the tank! Puffers rarely jump.
 
Ok, thanks to everyone for the responses so far. The tank dimensions are 11x8x8, and I don't think that the tank can be returned. Noooooo!

If I do get a pea puffer, it will be in there by itself. Perhaps I can see how an amano does. The tank will be heavily planted as well; I'm not too sure about "scaped" though. I'm be trying to cram in lots of plants, so is it necessary to add wood or rocks? (I'm open to this, just curious). I know they have a tooth to file down, which snails are supposed to help with, right? (in the form of sacrificing their lives).

Given the fact that the tank is now set in stone, I'd be curious to hear a few more opinions on whether or not a 3 gallon tank would be suitable for a solo pea puffer. I don't want to be cruel, so I will not get one if that will be too cramped. I am more than willing to do frequent filter maintenance and water changes, including 1 gallon twice per week or whatever is necessary.

Thanks!
 
It will be fine with lots of plants and sufficient water changes. Sounds like a good idea, and no I don't think the wood is necessary, just make sure it's well planted. And yup, the MTS and other snails are used to keep the teeth filed down.
 
pea puffers are one of the only puffers that there teeth stop growing, with them the snails are just a main staple i have a pea puffer in a 10 gallon he doesnt eat the snail shells just pulls the snails out of there shells and eats them its cute watching him hunt them tho
 
I would differ. I would never subject a pea puffer to that. I have 1 in a 30 gallon and he cruises the entire thing. +1 to the 5 gal minimum. A species only shrimp tank would do or but in a 3 gallon tank, for a puffer, too many things can and will go wrong and you're out a pet.
 
I definately thing that you could keep a single fish in a 3 gallon if you are commited to 2 to 3 50% water changes per week. That is really not much when you think about it. I have 7 tanks to keep up on water changes and I manage to do 2 to 3 water changes per week on all my tanks. As a result I have very healthy fish. The more water you can change the better. Make sure you cycle your tank properly and do dailty water changes with PRIME until it is completely cycled.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom