Wow, Rowangel, you got a lot of boys in there (looks like 3 and 1 girl). Do they ever fight? Or do you not have any females to stir their amorous rage?
Pearl gouramis + dwarf puffers?
- Thread starter batski
- Start date
Nope, 3 girls (on the left) and one boy...he's the slightly skinnier one on the right. =)
*note* eye crinkles and a dark line down the stomach are good indicators of gender. While the females can get 'gotees' the do not have the full stripe down the belly and stay slightly rounder than the males.*
*note* eye crinkles and a dark line down the stomach are good indicators of gender. While the females can get 'gotees' the do not have the full stripe down the belly and stay slightly rounder than the males.*
warning: slight thread hijacking 
Wow, two of your girls (in the center) have very yellow bellies, then!
I've noticed that the dominant individual (mine have both been male, so dont' know if this is true for females or not) takes on a paler golden body color. When I first had two males, the dominant one was gold all over and the submissive one had dark spots and looked much like a female. Only after I removed the dominant guy did the other boy become golden and his eye wrinkles more apparent. When I had all 3 dp's, the 2nd male was of "undetermined sex." Only after the boss got returned, did he "become a male". During water changes or when he's unsure, only then will the dark spots appear and he looks almost indistinguishable from the female.
Intersting, huh?
Wow, two of your girls (in the center) have very yellow bellies, then!
I've noticed that the dominant individual (mine have both been male, so dont' know if this is true for females or not) takes on a paler golden body color. When I first had two males, the dominant one was gold all over and the submissive one had dark spots and looked much like a female. Only after I removed the dominant guy did the other boy become golden and his eye wrinkles more apparent. When I had all 3 dp's, the 2nd male was of "undetermined sex." Only after the boss got returned, did he "become a male". During water changes or when he's unsure, only then will the dark spots appear and he looks almost indistinguishable from the female.
Intersting, huh?
Also...I would never recomend more than 1 male in a tank if possible. In larger tanks I would try and keep the ratio of 1 male to three females with plenty of hiding spots and real plants.
Yellow bellys are very common in females, not an indication of gender. Also, the reason why a puffer seems to 'become' a male is because they do not show gender till a little later, sounds like they where younger puffers just growing into maturity. Stress can cause lighter or darker color and the stripe on a male will only show if the male is sexualy mature, but eye crinkles are a pretty set way of identification, as is body shape...females=round, males less round and more narrow.plah831 said:warning: slight thread hijacking
Wow, two of your girls (in the center) have very yellow bellies, then!
I've noticed that the dominant individual (mine have both been male, so dont' know if this is true for females or not) takes on a paler golden body color. When I first had two males, the dominant one was gold all over and the submissive one had dark spots and looked much like a female. Only after I removed the dominant guy did the other boy become golden and his eye wrinkles more apparent. When I had all 3 dp's, the 2nd male was of "undetermined sex." Only after the boss got returned, did he "become a male". During water changes or when he's unsure, only then will the dark spots appear and he looks almost indistinguishable from the female.
Intersting, huh?
yeah, this change occured instanteously, tho. Within an hour of the other's removal, so I don't think it was maturity (although that's certainly true that they're often immature when you buy them).
I tried to get 2 females and 1 male at first, but two turned out to be male. Right now I have 1 of each and they get along great! I don't think I want to risk perturbing their dynamic by adding another puffer. Many folks on dwarfpuffers.com keep 1 of each, or even 2 males alone. They say the individual personalities and how they get along is more important and hard to predict. It's when you have more than one male to 1 female that there are problems due to competing over her. I asked on that forum if I should try to get another female, and they said no. The most important thing is that the fish you have now are doing well.
I have 2 dp's in a 10 gal, so there's room for another fish, but again, I've been reassured that if it ain't broke don't fix it. And I've got tons of live plants in there. I'm really becoming quite the aquatic garderner which is funny because I always had a brown thumb with terrestrial houseplants
Thanks for the suggestions!
I tried to get 2 females and 1 male at first, but two turned out to be male. Right now I have 1 of each and they get along great! I don't think I want to risk perturbing their dynamic by adding another puffer. Many folks on dwarfpuffers.com keep 1 of each, or even 2 males alone. They say the individual personalities and how they get along is more important and hard to predict. It's when you have more than one male to 1 female that there are problems due to competing over her. I asked on that forum if I should try to get another female, and they said no. The most important thing is that the fish you have now are doing well.
I have 2 dp's in a 10 gal, so there's room for another fish, but again, I've been reassured that if it ain't broke don't fix it. And I've got tons of live plants in there. I'm really becoming quite the aquatic garderner which is funny because I always had a brown thumb with terrestrial houseplants
Thanks for the suggestions!
Last edited:
plah831 said:And I've got tons of live plants in there. I'm really becoming quite the aquatic garderner which is funny because I always had a brown thumb with terrestrial houseplants
It seems like I'm the other way round... Do you add any fertilizer?
Oh, it took me a long time, though, and I'm still working it out. I do add fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and other traces) as well as liquid carbon (Flourish Excel, instead of CO2 injection). It helps a lot to have bright lighting, too!
Plants can definitely be more high-maintenance than fish. But the reward of a healthy, green, balanced tank is wonderful. I now consider my plants as much a part of my community as the fish and shrimps
If you have specific questions, or even general ones, the Aquatic Plants section of this forum is great! I still post questions on there a lot, but I'm starting to be able to answer some, too. I've come a long way since my algae-covered Anachris and swords
:
But it's a very delicate balance. Too much or too little of one thing can result in algae blooms. For me, it's a lot of trial and error (and a lot of patience) to see how my plants and tank will respond.
Plants can definitely be more high-maintenance than fish. But the reward of a healthy, green, balanced tank is wonderful. I now consider my plants as much a part of my community as the fish and shrimps
If you have specific questions, or even general ones, the Aquatic Plants section of this forum is great! I still post questions on there a lot, but I'm starting to be able to answer some, too. I've come a long way since my algae-covered Anachris and swords
:But it's a very delicate balance. Too much or too little of one thing can result in algae blooms. For me, it's a lot of trial and error (and a lot of patience) to see how my plants and tank will respond.
Last edited:
yes, i have dwarf puffers too in a 10 gallon tank. I had to be really carefull because they are fin nippers and im not sure if anyone said this but they are better off alone. I do infact have them with some bumble bee gobies and they dont mind each other at all. they both eat the sam foods so its real easy to feed them. i have 4 dwarf puffers 1male 3 females and 4 gobies dont know the sex because its hard to tell there so tiny :OT: lol but yeah they all are fine and there is enough room to hide in the plants and little "ruins" i got for them so they can set up territories but they all get along!!!
and it loks like me and rowangel have the same idea of 1 male to 3 females and REAL plants in a tank :dance:
and it loks like me and rowangel have the same idea of 1 male to 3 females and REAL plants in a tank :dance:
Last edited:
