Pearl gouramis + dwarf puffers?

[batski]

I have an Asian biotope in an 82 US Gal (68 UK Gal) aquarium. The fishes are pearl gouramis, pentazona barbs, harlequin rasboras and siamese algae eaters. Next month it is time for some botia sidthimunki to move in.

These are the fishes that I had planned for the Asia-aquarium, but a few weeks ago I saw some extremely cute dwarf puffer fishes and I've read some info on them. It seems like they can be quite tough fellers among themselves, but is there a risk they would harrass the gouramis or any of the other fishes?

Also, if the gouramis some day have fry, would the puffers eat them all up. I have talked to this person who has dwarf puffers and endlers in the same tank and he says it works fine. But his puffers are not yet addults.

 

[Rowangel]

Puffers really require a species only tank. Yes, they can be quite aggressive to their own if not in the proper balance, but they can also be quite aggressive with other fish, even to those large then them. They are cute little bullys. Some people have reported success with them in a community type setting, but I would count those as special cases with a lot of luck. I would never put my puffers into my community tank, they are just to aggressive.

 

[plah831]

I'm with Rowangel. I have dwarf puffers that are in their own tank and have never considered putting them in with my other fish because of too many horror stories. They're like little pit bulls, they're always fighting (but it's much better since I returned the dominant male, no more body contact). And yes, as she said, they have no qualms whatsoever about attacking much larger fish. In fact, the stress and infection of chronicaly torn fins will often kill the larger fish.

Aren't you glad you found this out BEFORE you tried it? A girl on here recently said she got so mad at her dwarf puffer for tearing up her other fish, that she almost flushed it down the toilet You can't blame a puffer for acting like a puffer. It's just not fair to expect them to be like another peaceful species.

That's why it's so much better to do research before purchasing. Good for you!

 

[twinturbo11]

hey there... i'm kind of iin the same boat as you... its hard to resist getting them... they look so interesting... so i did some research... i found out that the indian dwarf puffer fish not only prefers fresh water with no salt (unlike other puffers) but also does not grow larger than 1-1.5 inch and is relatively good in community tank.. having said this, i have never seen this baby in action... although, i am tempted to take the risk, and if it doesnt work out, then just return him to the pet store and lose my $7-$15 that i spent getting him...

 

[batski]

Thank you so much for your replies! I was hoping to get the opposite kind of reply, but life isn't always the way you want it to be...

But I certainly don't want anybody to get hurt, so there'll be no dwarf puffers in my Asian biotope.

 

[batski]

its hard to resist getting them...

It really is! I saw some today and they really are incredibly cute and they look so clever. Actually they ARE clever and havde such personalities.

Maybe some day I'll get a 3rd aquarium just because of them :

 

[plah831]

relatively good in community tank..

It's too bad that this misconception is being perpetuated everywhere. Most stores label them as "community fish". But everyone's experiences tell otherwise. I think there are even fewer dp's that get along with other fish than there are male bettas who are peaceful (just to put it in perspective).

 

[plah831]

Maybe some day I'll get a 3rd aquarium just because of them :

Nothing wrong with that, join the club! We call it MTS (multiple tank syndrome) and I"ve got it bad. RIght now I have 4-5 tanks (I have a couple small isolation tanks that are not always in commission) and am already planning at least a couple more!

 

[Rowangel]

its hard to resist getting them

Soo true! This is the look that won me over...and I just HAD to have a set-up for them. : They are soo friendly and curious!

 

[batski]

Don't do this to me