Dwarf Puffer Tankmate Suggestions

C

Captain Hook

Looking for ideas
Aug 21, 2003
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What would be a good bottom feeder for a large tank with dwarf puffers? Syno maybe? I'd like something to clean up some of the mess they'll leave behind.

Also could I have a small pleco for algae control or will they be harassed too much?
 
I was able to keep bristlenose in with my dwarf puffers. Cories were shredded, but the kuhli loaches were ignored. Kuhli's will eat snails, too though, so aren't the best pairing. What size tank is it? Are there lots of overhangs for the pleco to hide out in?
 
Thanks OG. I like kuhlis so I might try them. It's a 72 gallon. I'm going to add alot of rock work, hopefully making caves and places to hide. There are lots of plants in the tank too.
 
With that much room, you really could go with both, since the bristlenose and kuhli's will perform different tasks in addition to cleaning up some of the mess from the puffers.
 
what is the temperment of your DPs? mine is a demon incarnate. He has killed 5 other DPs i have tried in the tank over 3 weeks. I left an empty net hanging in the corner for a minute during some tank cleaning and he ripped a hole in it.

He owns that 10g and I swear if i miss a feeding he jump out of the tank hover though the air like a hummingbird and attack me gouging my eyes out. err wait sorry got a bit schitzo there for a minute :) good hook for a Scifi channel B movie.

But before you get the wrong idea. he is a joy. the only fish in my life (shh he is watching me type, he cant see the 20g filled with swordtales).

But anyway, as for the kuhli's . Mine have never touched snails. of course mine are the black ones (java loaches). Even if the ones you get eat the snails I could not imagine them beating the loaches to the food. Even if they do you could always feed the loaches first with sinking food then feed the live food to the DPs.

Of course my tank is 10g. There is so much more room for the snails to crawl before being noticed. My DP also eats daphinia. I'm sure the kuhlis wouldn't be interested in those.
 
Sounds good. I'm really looking forward to getting this tank set up. Its had no fish in it for months.

I'm thinking it would be a bad idea to have my compressed CO2 going in the tank. Any comments on this? I've read DPs are pretty sensitive. Would they like the low PH level? I figure it will be best to minimize variables as much as possible and play it safe.
 
Here's a pic of their future home taken a couple hours ago. The amazing thing is that I've done nothing to this tank in over 3 months. Only added fertilizer once and fed some food to the snails a few times.

plan.JPG


Red areas are where I want to build the rock caves. Not too sure about that area as of now.

IMGP1123.JPG
 
looks good. Have you checked out the coconut caves? There was a good thread on here and how to do it. Looks very nice and natural. I would never have thought of using a coconut hull . It takes the place of driftwood without that annoying "keeping it in the water" phase. i bet the plecos would like it if you decide to get some of those. Its so much easier than handling rocks. Of course I am never satisfied that a rock cave is stable enough unles carved out of single rock.

Its cuts very smooth with one of those rotozip blades. the spiral saw that goes in a dremel tool like contraption. you could also drill some 1/4-3/8 holes and make a kuhli habitat. In fact i probably use my dremel to crack open any future coconuts i get.

Although, I think mine is still slowly releasing acids because my KH keeps dropping but that should stop sooner or later. You could always boil it longer i guess.

http://www.aquamaniacs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=216596
 
Funny that you mention coconut caves because I have 3 of them. One is in the tank above but you can't see it. It's hidden in the back left corner where the swords are.

I wanted to try something a little different that's why I decided to try out some rocks. I really like the coconuts though they make a great home for my kribs (dwarf cichlids).
 
Im looking at your picture and something is bothering me. Is it a bow front tank or are you using a wide angle lens on your camera? the angles in my brain are not lining up.

trying to visualize your red lines in 3d.
 
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