Dwarf Puffer tank mates

[jeffro426]

I bought some dwarf puffers(3) for my 20 gallon today and was wondering what would be some good tank mates for them? Im primarily looking for something to keep the bottom of the tank clean...would they do ok with cories?

[Pufferpunk]

Cories should be ok, but I do noticed a few "nicked" fins every once in a while.

[OrionGirl]

I pulled my cories from the tank with my puffers. The puffers nibbled on their fins all the time. I have bristlenose and kuhlis in with my puffers, and they do a good job of cleaning up after the puffers. The kuhli's are particularly good at cleaning up snail bits from crushed shells--though this won't be an issue with the dwarfs.

[Dangerdoll]

I agree with the above notes.... I wouldn't place cories in with them in a 20 gallon. If you were to have a planted 55, that might be different as there is more room for the cories to take refuge.

[OrionGirl]

For comparison--mine are in a planted 40--the cories had lots of hiding places, but they don't hide in the tiny crevices where the puffers will not fit as well.

[jread]

Originally posted by jeffro426
I bought some dwarf puffers(3) for my 20 gallon today and was wondering what would be some good tank mates for them? Im primarily looking for something to keep the bottom of the tank clean...would they do ok with cories?

I keep Ottos with my puffs. No problems at all. You may also keep some ghost shrimp with dwarves. They may not even care about the shrimp, so you will have a nice little cleaning crew (shrimp are excellent scavengers). And, if the puffers DO decide eat them, then you're not out very much money at all.

[Dangerdoll]

when I had my puffers and I added the shrimp, the puffers thanked me for the big snack ;) .....
just a word of caution, whatever you decide to go with, you're going to have to watch these guys carefully as their nipping reputation is an individual based characteristic. Some may be tenecious with the nipping while others may not nip at all.

[jread]

Originally posted by Dangerdoll
when I had my puffers and I added the shrimp, the puffers thanked me for the big snack ;) .....
just a word of caution, whatever you decide to go with, you're going to have to watch these guys carefully as their nipping reputation is an individual based characteristic. Some may be tenecious with the nipping while others may not nip at all.

I've noticed this, too. Some of mine are very passive and others are kind of bullies. Then again, the passive ones will only take so much before they fight back.

As far as the shrimp, the shrimp were in my tank before the puffers, so they're used to them being there. The shrimp aren't scared of the puffers at all and will chase them away if they get too close. I think that I may end up not having any problems with them killing shrimp. Maybe I'll be brave enough to try putting Amanos in there one day :D Lots of people have had success with it.... just depends on whether or not the puffers have a taste for shrimp ;)