Potential problems with dwarfs?

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isaac newton

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Mar 22, 2003
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I have Red clawed crab with my dwarf puffers.. In you honest opinion, do you believe that once my dwarfs hit max size they will bother my red rock crabs? I also have guppies and neons with them as well, do u believe they will bother them as well? Right now my dwarfs are quite small and really not causing much trouble. No fin nippage yet (but im afraid a day will come when it becomes a problem )
 
The puffers will shred the guppies tails. I have four in my community tank. I moved my gouramies out because the dwarves were nipping, though I never saw damage--just the nip and run. So, being a dork, I brought home a gorgeous male betta and added him to the community tank. I knew in about an hour that it wasn't going to work, and started a 2.5 gallon setup for the betta. In the 2 days it took to get that tank ready, the puffers took nipped his tail fins down to about half their original size. The betta is recovering and should regrow his fins, but I will never trust the little buggers with anything other than armoured fish, tetras and minnows.

For the crabs, I would worry more about the damage the crabs will inflict on the fish than the other way around.
 
OrionGirl u can lock up this thread, not getting much replys in this area. I think ill have a better chance in freshwater forums since DP's are freshwater...
 
Actually, this is where all the pufferfolks hang out!
 
You won't get too much luck in General FW for the reason stated above. We just had a thread on Mbu puffers here the other day even though Mbus are about as FW of fish as you can get.
 
Isaac...I've never owned any crabs, but I do have a 6 pack of Dwarfs...won't the crab go after the Dwarfs when they sleep? I know my little guys are pretty heavy sleepers, some nights they don't even wait for the lights to go out before bedding down, and in the morning they are pretty slow to rise. I usuall see the last one poke his nose out of the bush about 10 mins after the lights come on (I swear if they had arms they would be rubbing the sleep out of their eyes when they come out):D
 
I believe you're right firsttanks, mine are pretty heavy dozers as well..... the crabs will grab anything unlucky enough to be in their area and if they get the urge, may even climb for what they want. They are notorious for snatching up the fish, regardless of what it is.... A word of caution, if the crabs do wind up going after the puffer and it causes a "blow-up", I do recall reading something about the toxins your puffers may release if forced to blow up (by being crab-caught) or if they should die, so that is another thing you should probably think about. If they are together, I'd separate them and if they are apart, I'd keep them that way....there's just too much risk.
 
Has anyone had that problem before? (having your crab attack or grab a puffer). I just saw my Red claw crab snatch my alge eater... Luckly i was there and had to break off the arm of the crab to let it go (the arms do grow back right??? How long does it take untill they do grow back?)..... I havent had any problems with my crab snatching my puffers neons cory and guppies... (with the alge eater, ill guess ill have to get the biggest one in there to prevent this from happening again). When both dwarf puffer and Red Claw Crab acheive max size, will the crab be able to grab onto the puffer????
Ive been reading on other post and most do keep crabs with their puffers... Case in point, the GSP.. They recomend that if you have a crawfish to replace it with a fiddler which is more of a safer choice...


P.S. Reason why i am keeping crabs in the first place is that they are good substrate vacuum cleaners.
 
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personally, I would think anything's possible, especially since you've got the evidence before you that he's gone after and caught your algae eater. Yes, you say he's never grabbed at your other fish before but I'll bet it's the first time he's gone after your algae eater as well and he gets his arm broken because of it. There's a first for everything.....I wouldn't do it......but everyone to each his own.
 
I saw it in action.. This algae eater is kind of stupid.. It actully goes right infront of the crab (where claws are located) and sits there.. Most fix including my puffer stay away from the crab... Ive never seen my crab actully go and hunt for my puffers or any other fish... It just prefers scavange leftovers..
 
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