FW Puffers

[Captain Hook]

Hey guys and gals, I was going to set up a planted 20 gallon as a community tank but am now considering puffers. Which kinds would do well in this tank, freshwater of course?

I really still like to keep kuhli loaches in the tank. Also, I am looking for puffers that will eat small feeders (guppies or goldfish). Would this be possible?

[OrionGirl]

I'm moving this over to the Brackish forum--all puffers, including FW ones, are handled there. OG

For a 20, there are a few options. You won't have more than 1-2 in there, but the South American puffers are agreat fish. The biggest draw back to them is feeding--they must have daily crunchies, either shell-on cocktail shrimp, mussels, or live snails to prevent beak over growth. The other option would be a group (3-5) dwarf puffers. These little guys are becoming more popular (and available) and are much easier to maintain. They may be difficult to feed as juveniles (mine would take only live brine shrimp and snails), but as sub-adults and adults will begin eating pretty much anything but flake food. Their beaks are not as prone to over growth as the SA puffers.

[Captain Hook]

Thanks for the info OG. What do you think about keeping dwarf puffers with kuhli loaches, would that be possible? Also, will dwarfs eat small feeders like guppies?

[Pufferpunk]

I don't think either of those puffers will eat guppies.

[Captain Hook]

Ok thanks pufferpunk. Your input has made me lean back towards a community tank.

So you don't think figure 8's or spotted puffers will eat small fish?

[MonoSebaelover]

It is not good for the fish to eat feeder fish. Puffers are crustacean eaters and will only eat feeders if that is only provided or if they provide a chase. Puffers would be too likely to nip at the Kuhlli's so that is not a good mix. So anyway, good luck with whatever you decide.

[Pufferpunk]

I thought you were talking about SAPs or dwarfs. F8s & GSPs could be a different story. They are more aggressive. Especially the GSPs. Mine have eaten many of their smaller tankmates. Neither of which can go w/FW kuli loaches, since they are both BW fish. As Mono said, they all will need hard-shelled foods as a staple in their diet. The best "community" type puffers are the SAPs. Even the dwarfs can reak havoc on other fish.

[Captain Hook]

Oh ok thanks for clearing that up.

[Milton Friedman]

I would be weary though of putting any other fish but its species in the same tank. While those puffers that orion mentioned have mild tempermernt, puffers are quite individualistic, thus very unpradicitble. If you are willing to risk it, SAP's are the best choice if mixing species within a tank

[cdawson]

even the most docile of SA puffers still pose a problem as they're still going to occasionally nip fins and eat inverts.

[Raydee]

I have had 2 South American Puffer's since I started my tank up last year and they are great, Non- agressive puffer's. Last week one of them somehow got caught on my overflow and died. I have been searching around for another one with no luck! I have a seperate 20 gallon tank set up with snail's and guppies. Both my puffers loved the snails but never even tried to go after the guppies. They are great fish and I hope I can get a few more.