Just got 2 mini puffer fish.

[prolude006]

I have to disagree with a few of the comments above. It is still debatable whether these puffers should be kept in freshwater or brackish. I kept mine in brackish for 3 years after they came from freshwater tanks at the LFS. I kept 3 dwarf puffers with 2 figure 8 puffers with no problems. Shrimp will become snacks yes! Two things you can feed them consistently, earthworms and snails, both you can grow easily at home. You could also keep a little shrimp tank which reproduce quickly and add them as they grow in numbers. The tank must stay clean for their health. Yes you do not want to try and make them puff up, it is a last resort usually results in death of the fish. They can bite you pretty badly so be careful with your hand in the tank.

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

i wish there were big warning signs about puffers. all kinds.

1) they need a special diet. meaty things. frozen things. live things. crunchy things.
2) they need more space than your average fish. even dwarf puffers need 3 gallons per fish.
4) a lot are picky about water parameters. dwarf puffers are exclusively freshwater.
5) AGGRESSIVE. size does not matter. if you want your existing fish to keep their fins and such, dont get puffers.

fyi, theres a great forum for puffers (thepufferforum.com) that will tell you just about anything you want to know about caring for these fish. i highly recommend you read up first before deciding to keep these fish

Did a DP eat #3?

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

I have to disagree with a few of the comments above. It is still debatable whether these puffers should be kept in freshwater or brackish. I kept mine in brackish for 3 years after they came from freshwater tanks at the LFS. I kept 3 dwarf puffers with 2 figure 8 puffers with no problems. Shrimp will become snacks yes! Two things you can feed them consistently, earthworms and snails, both you can grow easily at home. You could also keep a little shrimp tank which reproduce quickly and add them as they grow in numbers. The tank must stay clean for their health. Yes you do not want to try and make them puff up, it is a last resort usually results in death of the fish. They can bite you pretty badly so be careful with your hand in the tank.

May I please see a link to this grand debate?

 

[inkyjenn]

yes, the dps ate all the #3's

 

[tcarswell]

i do have frequent snail problems, maybe they'll take care of that.

They will

 

[tcarswell]

i wish there were big warning signs about puffers. all kinds.

1) they need a special diet. meaty things. frozen things. live things. crunchy things.
2) they need more space than your average fish. even dwarf puffers need 3 gallons per fish.
4) a lot are picky about water parameters. dwarf puffers are exclusively freshwater.
5) AGGRESSIVE. size does not matter. if you want your existing fish to keep their fins and such, dont get puffers.

fyi, theres a great forum for puffers (thepufferforum.com) that will tell you just about anything you want to know about caring for these fish. i highly recommend you read up first before deciding to keep these fish

I followed this advice when I picked out my 3 dwarf puffers for my cycled 10 gallon with an eclipse 1 hood. 2 females and 1 male. It has been successful this is excellent advice.

 

[jbradt]

i wish there were big warning signs about puffers. all kinds.

1) they need a special diet. meaty things. frozen things. live things. crunchy things.
2) they need more space than your average fish. even dwarf puffers need 3 gallons per fish.
4) a lot are picky about water parameters. dwarf puffers are exclusively freshwater.
5) AGGRESSIVE. size does not matter. if you want your existing fish to keep their fins and such, dont get puffers.

fyi, theres a great forum for puffers (thepufferforum.com) that will tell you just about anything you want to know about caring for these fish. i highly recommend you read up first before deciding to keep these fish

x3

like other fish, it depends on the individual puffer. some of them can get along in community tanks, some will become psychotic. don't let the size fool you, dp's can do some damage. keep a good eye out for agression, or you could easily lose fish many times larger than the puffs.

that said, i have 3 in my 20 long, and they are my favorite fish. i hope yours work out for you. they will love your snails, but most will ignore flakes, so be sure to supplement with frozen... mine love bloodworms!

 

[steelhumm]

May I please see a link to this grand debate?

it's called GOOGLE...just googled dwarf puffers freshwater or brackish and got pages full of articles saying they are good for both.

Never understood why people must be flat out rude on forums. I am a paid admin at 60 online message boards and it amazes me everyday the responces I see. Unless you weren't trying to be smart, then I retract my previous statements :lipssealedsmilie:

 

[bazil323]

Here's a link to a profile about dwarf puffers at The Puffer Forum. This is an awesome, awesome resource for puffer keepers of all kinds. Might want to check it out just to make sure that it's the right ID. There are several puffers that are called dwarf puffers by fish stores, but that might actually be Figure 8 puffers, etc.

 

[Accipiter]

UPDATE: All the new fish died overnight. I've had that happen with this store before (well not every single fish dying, but like 50% at times). I'm really ticked off. They were fine when I went to bed. One of the cherry barbs looked a little loopy so I was going to keep an eye on it. I got up this morning and there were 6 dead fish on the bottom of my tank. I feel bad now. My gf's upset because she thought the puffers were cute.