Banchee, Bentley, and Bonsai

[SftWrmRain]

Pictures of my son's new dwarf puffers. They are totally freshwater, TEENY tiny little guys. The biggest of these three is barely 1/2 inch. They get to be around one inch at maturity. Aren't they cute?

[oscar83]

WOW TOO FREAKIN CUTE!!!! those little guys look great!

[Aussie_hippie_2]

Cool. I tried DP's but couldn't keep them alive. The only fish I've ever given up on...

[SftWrmRain]

THANKS Oscar! :) I agree!!

Aussie,

What kinds of issues did you have? What conditions did you keep them in? Did you have more than one at a time?

They are aggressive fish, so they require a heavily planted tank, either plastic or live so as to break their line of vision to each other. Mine are juvies so they hang out together for now, but are already establishing their territories within the tank. They are known to take out any tankmates they have, even those of their own kind if they don't have their own space. Also, it's recommended to keep only one male per 2 females if you have more than one.

Did you try to keep them more than once, at different times before you gave up? They're so fun - I love them.

[HiGhTiMeZ]

oooooh so cute!

[corykid]

yes very cute little guys

[Aussie_hippie_2]

I tried them twice, I guess my LFS must just have crappy ones, both times they refused to eat either BBS, brine shrimp or worms. Ridiculous. I hate my LFS. They were very cute though.

[fish_freak]

Nice I want them lol very cool pics

[johnlarson66]

Thise pictures make me want to go out and get a 10 gallon and set it up with puffers. I tried one in a community tank, a few years back and it did not make it. 100% my fault.

I think a tank with just them in it would be great or would they mix with a male betta?

We have a betta at work, maybe I can upgrade him to a 10 gal with a few puffers. There is a perfect space for a 10. I might just upgrade the betta anyway...

[Aaron89]

Very Nice

[SftWrmRain]

Thise pictures make me want to go out and get a 10 gallon and set it up with puffers. I tried one in a community tank, a few years back and it did not make it. 100% my fault.

I think a tank with just them in it would be great or would they mix with a male betta?

We have a betta at work, maybe I can upgrade him to a 10 gal with a few puffers. There is a perfect space for a 10. I might just upgrade the betta anyway...

Thanks everyone for the nice comments. :)

John,

You DEFINITELY don't want to put puffers with your betta. They will tear your betta to pieces, FAST. Dwarf puffers (as well as other puffers) are very aggressive and should be placed in a species tank. A ten gallon is large enough for 1-3 dwarfs. They only get about an inch long, but require at least 3 gallons each, and/or a minimum of 5 gallons (one fish) to start. Also, bettas like a little salt in their water, but puffers don't want or need ANY salt. Both will survive well in the same type of pH and temp though. If you add more than one puffer to a tank, make sure it is heavily planted so the puffs don't have to see each other all the time.

Here is a great site with lots of awesome info on them:

www.dwarfpuffers.com

Be sure to do your research on these lil guys before scooping them up, but they are FUN to have!

[DaisyTattoo]

Also, bettas like a little salt in their water, but puffers don't want or need ANY salt.I have to disagree with this statement. Betta's don't need salt in their water for any reason other than to treat a disease and/or parasite such as Ich. No fish needs salt in it's water unless it is for brackish or marine conditions. I personally believe that salt should only be used as a medication for freshwater fish. I do want to say that I agree that besides the salt, a betta should NEVER be kept with a puffer of ANY kind. Anyway, sorry to go off topic.

I love the puffers BTW. They are very cute and look super healthy. Good job!!!

[johnlarson66]

I have a 55 gallon tank that I really do not know what to do with.

Right now I have an albino pleco and a rubber lipped pleco in it.

How many dwarf puffers AND is there anything at all that can go in there, neons, glowfish, chilids. I am not sure if I have the patience to do a species only tank.

If I did do a species only tank, it would be these guys. I can move the plecos to another tank.

So please tell me if there is anything in the world that can go in with the dwarf puffers. I will also check the link.

I wonder if I should start a new thread...

[corykid]

3g's (i would go with like 5g since it is a larger tank and ya do not want tones of them it would look kindda wiered) a dwarf and they are mini-monsters = species only tank, if ya wanna get them start a small pond snail breeding tank, if ya look it up on google you can read about the denifits of having snails in their diet


JUST TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOVE

[fishcatch22]

they sometimes do well with other species, but generally it is not reccomended.

[fballguy]

The only things where most people have success in keeping with DPs is ottos. But even then Some puffers will not tolerate them. Same goes for shrimp. Most DPs won't touch them, but some will eat them.

If you absolutely must have a tankmate for them ottos are the safest choice. But be ready to move them just in case.

[johnlarson66]

What I am thinking is adding more fake plants to the tank and maybe two smaller flower pots (there are two large ones in there now). There is some drift wood also. I might have some other decorations that might not look too bad in there. It is the bottom tank on my double 55 (link in signature).

I think putting 12 in there (and NOTHING else) would be good. Someone let me know if it is too many for a 55 gal.

Sorry for hi-jacking the thread. The puffers look great.

[ausername]

awww look at them being cute..

[Reefscape]

Any chance of some updates here?

Niko