Bit of a rut and want Dwarf puffers...

kissofcrimson

kissofcrimson

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Aug 14, 2012
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North Carolina, USA
For the last year I haven't done much with my tanks other then downsize them, rehome fish and clean them. You could say I was distracted and lost interest with everything going on in my life. Now I'm trying to figure out how to stock my tanks with my existing fish while doing something new..

I've wanted Dwarf puffers ever since I first seen them at an LFS years ago but never got around to getting them. I was more focused on community tanks and breeding Angelfish then having singular species tanks. I just want to know if its possible that Dwarf puffers can be housed with anything other then Otto cats. Like Kuhli loaches, Panda Garra's or Bleeding heart tetras? I'm thinking of rehoming the tetras but am not sure yet.

I'm looking for people who have actually housed Dwarf puffers and have trial/error experience. If I can't house DP's then I might just get a Betta or GBR, but would rather have something I haven't had before.. Maybe I might get a singular Angel, not sure.


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Forgot to mention the tank is a 20 gallon long but I would upgrade to the 29 if I got an Angel, which I doubt right now since I always seem to get the most aggressive ones. The tank is also heavily planted with driftwood.


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Dwarf puffers are typically very territorial and fin nippers. You'd have to have lots of decor to break lines of sight to have much of a chance of it not terrorizing things that come into its territory. Anything that isn't a "sucker" type fish is a potential rival. Then again, I've only heard stories from other people, as I haven't had any in my own tanks.
 
I have kept them and they will probably go after anything that won't eat them. The Panda Garra may work, but, the tank would need to have high flow in it for them, and the puffers probably would not do well in that.

In a 20 long, if heavily planted, you could have 4 puffers, some otos, and possibly some kuhli loaches or corydora. As usual with aggressive fish, this may or may not work, and having a back up plan would be best.
 
Thank you both for responding. I really want DP's but am not giving up the BHT's, so I'll probably stick to getting a Betta. Man, why do the cute fish have to be so aggressive.. lol
 
Have you thought about SAPs ? South American Puffers, also known as the "friendly" puffer ? They are very similar to DPs in appearance and size, but vastly different in attitude. I have 3 in my 46 gal oddball community tank, have had them close to 3 years, and they get along fine with everyone (even the F8 puffer that has been in the tank 5 years). I have neons, 1/2 beaks, a male beta, sids, glass cats, sewellia lineolatas, purple passion danios, and more. Absolutely no issues. And, they are totally fresh water. Good luck.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/campinkru/IMG_5309.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/campinkru/IMG_5310.jpg
 
vanillarum said:
Have you thought about SAPs ? South American Puffers, also known as the "friendly" puffer ? They are very similar to DPs in appearance and size, but vastly different in attitude. I have 3 in my 46 gal oddball community tank, have had them close to 3 years, and they get along fine with everyone (even the F8 puffer that has been in the tank 5 years). I have neons, 1/2 beaks, a male beta, sids, glass cats, sewellia lineolatas, purple passion danios, and more. Absolutely no issues. And, they are totally fresh water. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I've never heard of those before and thanks for the information. I'll have to look and see what they're like. My local LFS only sells DP's, spotted and f8 puffers so I might have a problem getting those. Do you have more females then males or does it not matter?


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I was reading a little bit about them and someone said they eat plants. This tank would be heavily planted too and I'd rather not have them eating the plants. Said they can be nippy but that's to be expected with any fish. Have they harassed your Betta at all? I know my bf really wants a Betta as the centerpiece and wonder if it would work for me.

The stock in the 20g long is currently 7 Kuhli loaches, 3 female BHT (aren't nippy at all), and 2 Panda Garra's. I would only add 3-4 SAP so they could be in a group. Would this be alright?


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My tank is at least moderately planted, and the puffers have never bothered the plants. And I would strongly disagree, they are not nippy in the least. My male betta has been in with the 3 SAPs for well over a year and has all his fins intact. I do not know the sexes of the puffers, nor do I think it matters. I read that the reason that they are NOT aggressive is that because they do not guard their eggs when they spawn. This is my community tank. You can see 1 of the SAPs up in the left hand corner.


 
Something to keep in mind with SA Puffers is that unlike dwarf puffers, they NEED crunch in their diet or their teeth will overgrow and require manual trimming.

Dwarf puffers vary widely. I've had them in with a 40 other a slew of other fish and no problems, I've had them in a 90 with mollies, otos and bristlenose and they steadily eliminated each other. Ignored the bottom dwellers completely, ate the molly fry but ignored the adults.
 
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