Since I'm moving my fish out of my 10 gallon and into a 20 I want to restock the 10. I was thinking Dwarf puffers but I've never tried with them before. so does anyone know how heavily I should plant the tank? And if they get along with any other fish? Any special diet? Any information will be appreciated.
Dwarf Puffers
- Thread starter Scooper
- Start date
they wont eat flakes... best bet is small pond snails and frozen or live blood worms...I'd plant as heavy as possible and get no more than 5 for a ten gallon. They are pretty mean to each other and I hear that they are mean to everything else... I wouldn't mix them with anything. You could try oto's but that could be risky.
It depends on the personality and age of the dwarf freshwater puffers. I had guppies, platties, otos, and one dwarf puffer for over 3 years together, and never had a death or nipped fin. Tank was heavily planted and the puffer was the last thing added. Kept well fed, they CAN do ok but it really depends on the puffer. A lot say only a species tank and had I known that when I purchased the puffer, I would not have bought him. He was the exception I think, rather than the rule.
They love snails. I had gotten him to get rid of an overpopulation of snails (now I know that they overbred cuz I overfed the fish...duh....). Once the snails were gone (less than 3 or 4 days in a 29gallon tank), I fed him live California black worms and frozen bloodworms. They are not fast eaters, and I had to feed him with an eyedropper to prevent the rest of his tankmates from taking the food intended for him. I'd wait until he was near it but the rest were elsewhere to release a worm. He quickly learned to come to get his 'bottle' as my husband laughingly called it, at feeding time. He'd chase (briefly, and not nip fins) the rest away from 'his' food once he learned that it was for him alone.
Here is a link with a lot of good info about them. Most say its ok to mix them with the Oto. If it is the dwarf freshwater puffer, it does indeed mean FRESHWATER, not brackish or saltwater.
Dwarf Puffers : Home
Hope this helps. For your 10gallon tank, I'd only do one or two puffers. They need 5 gallons or so per fish and depending on the gender, you may get some fighting if they are overcrowded.
They love snails. I had gotten him to get rid of an overpopulation of snails (now I know that they overbred cuz I overfed the fish...duh....). Once the snails were gone (less than 3 or 4 days in a 29gallon tank), I fed him live California black worms and frozen bloodworms. They are not fast eaters, and I had to feed him with an eyedropper to prevent the rest of his tankmates from taking the food intended for him. I'd wait until he was near it but the rest were elsewhere to release a worm. He quickly learned to come to get his 'bottle' as my husband laughingly called it, at feeding time. He'd chase (briefly, and not nip fins) the rest away from 'his' food once he learned that it was for him alone.
Here is a link with a lot of good info about them. Most say its ok to mix them with the Oto. If it is the dwarf freshwater puffer, it does indeed mean FRESHWATER, not brackish or saltwater.
Dwarf Puffers : Home
Hope this helps. For your 10gallon tank, I'd only do one or two puffers. They need 5 gallons or so per fish and depending on the gender, you may get some fighting if they are overcrowded.
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I wouldnt have no more than 3 DPs in a 10g. I would try to have 1 male and 2 females if you can... males will have a dark stripe running down the underside of their belly, females are usually more vibrant in color. you can also have bumble bee gobies, ottos, and shrimp in there with them as tank mates. i really enjoy the gobies however they are very picky like the DP's as far as food goes. you could go possibly get away with 4 DPs in if you have it heavily planted. this breaks up their line of sight and helps with establishing teritories. ive had a 10g with 2 DP's 1 male 1 female, 3 bumble be gobies, and a otto in a planted tank for a year and a half. i love all of the fish its probably my favorite tank i have. they have very interesting personalities, they remind me of dogs. i feed live blackworms and pond snails to all of the fish( except the otto...he has a field day in the planted tanks natural algae) yes they do blow up...but ive only noticed it during the begining weeks of adapting to the tank....i havn't seen it since..its hard to tell though... these fish only get 1.5 inches big.
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yeah...mine have puffed like 2 or 3 times.... but only when they were newly introduced to the tank...i think due to inital stress...and then another time for territorial issues?...but i havent seen it since....good luck with your ottos....i have had a hard time with them..i bought 5 and i only have 1 now. i personaly enjoy the bumble bee gobies. they remind me exactly of the saltwater gobies.
They can indeed puff up with air or water. If stressed in the water, they will puff up with water. They can release it when they are calm again. It's a defensive action to prevent being preyed upon. Makes them a bigger 'bite' that hopefully the other fish can't swallow.
If they get puffed up with air, its hard for them to release the air due to the pressure difference. This is when they can die from not being able to regulate their swimming again. Sort of like us trying to keep an innertube full of air pushed underwater.
When moving them you should never use a net and have them out of the water. I moved mine by using a small drinking glass and would gently chase him into it with a net. A clear drinking glass is almost invisible to them and they don't avoid it much. Then submerge the glass into the new set-up so the puffer is never in the air. Better safe than sorry!
If they get puffed up with air, its hard for them to release the air due to the pressure difference. This is when they can die from not being able to regulate their swimming again. Sort of like us trying to keep an innertube full of air pushed underwater.
When moving them you should never use a net and have them out of the water. I moved mine by using a small drinking glass and would gently chase him into it with a net. A clear drinking glass is almost invisible to them and they don't avoid it much. Then submerge the glass into the new set-up so the puffer is never in the air. Better safe than sorry!