dwarf puffers

[PartyAnimal1UK]

CAn anyone tell me a bit about these i was looking in to getting a couple to put in my community tank just wondered how they would fair with other tankmates atempreture e.t.c thanks;)

[Bantam]

pufferfish aren't generally suited to the community aquarium as a rule. dwarf puffers don't get to more than a couple of inches long but will still nip the fins of the other fish. the level of aggression will vary quite widely between individuals. some seem to get more grumpy as they age though.
depending what else is in the tank the pufferfish may itself be vulnerable because of its small size.
i only keep them in a species tank myself, they don't need as much space as many fish so you can use a relatively small tank especially for dwarves.
hope this helps

[Endlerama]

When I first got my 2 many months ago, they had a tendency to nip the fins of the other fish (or at least it seemed - i never actually caught them, but I did know of their tendencies). Eventually, I gave them to a friendly LFS, but began to feel sorry for them, and asked for them back. Since rejoining the tank, they've been the perfect angels, but spend most of their time hiding and sulking amidst the foliage, only coming out at worm feedings.

[Dangerdoll]

I originally had one in my community tank and he's never been a problem, but as mentioned earlier, this does vary between individuals. I liked this one so much that I decided to get 2 more for company and the three of them are like musketeers....never bothering anyone. Though like mentioned before also, they do seem to stay close to the foliage but together until worms or brine shrimp is added. My community tank consists of 2 angels (adults), a danio, a red tailed shark, a couple plecos, and some corys...along with these 3.......like I said, everything seems as peaceful as can be but this does vary individual-wise.

[vtfish]

Well, I have had several puffers- figure eights and spotted, and they really do vary. My current two figure eights can only live by themselves. They are both so agressive! In the past I have had eights that were very docile though, and lived with silver dollars. In my experience the smaller they are at purchase, the better, as they can then grow up with other fish. And the other key is to make sure they are well fed. (no flake food for these guys).
The other item to note is that puffers are really prone to ick when newly purchased, from stress. So it is good to quarantine them at first and put some salt in the water. Of course they always live longer and grow faster in a tank with some salt (I usually add a teaspoon per five gallons to puffer tanks), though they do live in plain fresh just fine.
I love puffers...hope that was the info you were looking for?
-vtfish

[RTR]

I disagree strongly with the statement that "Of course they always live longer and grow faster in a tank with some salt ..." Would anyone care to explain how FW fish would always live longer and grow faster with salt? Dwarf puffers are FW. If the reference was to GSP and Figure-8s, well, they are brackish water fish and will do better in brackish water - but 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons is not brackish.

But aside from that, pretty much agree with the comments made in this thread.

[vtfish]

well, if they are prone to ick then the salt keeps parasites at bay and then thus they are healthier fish.
A lot of straight freshwater fish do well with a little salt in the water.
And actually figure eights are not brackish.

[Dangerdoll]

Actually, the general consensus is that the figure-8's can survive in freshwater, brackish, and marine if correctly conditioned although they tend to do slightly better in brackish conditions......this is high in debate among puffer keepers. Naturally they are supposed to be a freshwater fish.

And I also agree with RTR, the freshwater dwarf is solely a freshwater puffer.

[vtfish]

please do not misunderstand- I never meant to imply dwarfs were brackish. Yes, they are freshwater. But I think they would do better with some salt in the water, especially initially.
Thank you.

[Dangerdoll]

VT..... I understand that you realize that the dwarf is a freshwater fish, I just disagree that they need any salt in their water to do better.....even initially. When buying from an lfs, they should come out of a FW tank and in that case aren't accustomed (per say) to salt in their environment....generally because they don't need it.....as a disease preventative, that's a different story....but I think the salt isn't vital for these guys....

[RTR]

When anybody else can keep them in excess of 15 years in FW I will listen to that argument, when they can top my 18 years+ for figure-8s, then I'll listen closely.

Figure-8s are brakish fish.

I say so from direct observation.

Klaus Ebert says so as well.

[Dangerdoll]

I completely agree RTR, I would be on the puffer keepers listing that figure-8 are brackish fish....or do best in a brackish tank. I was just telling of the contoversy over the matter is all...

[RTR]

LFS have little information on FW and BW puffers, most old refs and web sites are not really much better. Nomenclature and native water for these fish is a sad jumble. Add this to the myths about adding salt to FW tanks and the situation is bad or at least undesirable for the fish.

This is my biggest soapbox. I rant on the topic routinely, especially as these are among the longest-lived captive tropical fish - up there with or beyond Cichlids and approaching Clown loaches. It really bugs me to see them abused due to incorrect information.