Dwarf Puffer help

[knoids]

I would love it if you guys could just give me some tips and stuff on dwarf puffers. I am very new to puffers, I don't even have one yet! MOST OF ALL, I want to know how many Dwarf Puffers I can put in a 10 gallon tank. I also want to know what to feed them. They are meat only/carnivore right? will midas shrimp, (they have 69.5% protien) work? do I need to feed them snails? Do there teeth grow? How much water do I need to change every week? Do I need to over-filtrate? (right now I have a Aqueon 10, which does 100gph)

[bertie 83]

Max 2 in a 10 gal, they love snails and all meaty foods. Heavily decorate and change 50% weekly. Their teeth do not grow like other puffers but boy do they love snails

[Nuclear_Glitter]

I would recommend an aquaclear filter in addition to your current filter. You could get an aquaclear 20 or 30 and put it with your other one for more filtration.

[bertie 83]

I am not familiar with the current filter, 100gph sounds good, just curious ng why add another? Is the current one not much cop?

[Nuclear_Glitter]

I am not familiar with the current filter, 100gph sounds good, just curious ng why add another? Is the current one not much cop?

Well, 100GPH is the minimum on a 10 gallon and with puffers they generally produce more waste than normal fish, as you know. (Secondly, that filter is only so-so in quality, IMO). I recommended the addition of a secondary filter for the bonus filtration, and I have noticed that the aquaclears hold bacteria better than most FW HOB filters. I really appreciate you asking this question, because advice like this often confuses people and I generally forget to explain myself. =]

[bertie 83]

Cool. I always multifilter anyway, was unfamiliar with the one in question.

[Pufferpunk]

Good articles above, in our Library Section.

[knoids]

I would recommend an aquaclear filter in addition to your current filter. You could get an aquaclear 20 or 30 and put it with your other one for more filtration.

Do you think that with 2 filters there will be too much current? especially with a aquaclear 30! I actually have looked into a aquaclear filter though. It seems like they are one of the best filters. I JUST looked at the AC 20, and it does 100 gph as well!

[knoids]

Max 2 in a 10 gal, they love snails and all meaty foods. Heavily decorate and change 50% weekly. Their teeth do not grow like other puffers but boy do they love snails

Thanks! I was wondering whether I should get 2 or 3, I looked at Yahoo Answers (you know how yahoo is) and most people on yahoo said that 3 DP'S where fine in a 10 gallon tank, so I am glad to get a real puffer-keeper to tell me what is the truth!

[knoids]

Good articles above, in our Library Section.

Im sorry, but what are you saying??

[knoids]

Max 2 in a 10 gal, they love snails and all meaty foods. Heavily decorate and change 50% weekly. Their teeth do not grow like other puffers but boy do they love snails

Is a 50% water change still necessary with only 1 DP? What type of meaty foods do you use? Midas shrimp?

[knoids]

I am not familiar with the current filter, 100gph sounds good, just curious ng why add another? Is the current one not much cop?

It's a pretty lame filter. Not much biological filtration. That's why I was looking at aquaclear filter.

[Nuclear_Glitter]

Lots of current is good because they need the exercise. No, it won't be too much for it to handle, don't worry. I know you actually asked Bertie this question, but you should still do 50% water change even with 1 DP. The only other way to tell if you can drop back on changes is to use a liquid test kit (API freshwaterliquid test kit) is good for this. How you know how often to do changes is when your nitrate level is near 20. With puffers you must always keep the nitrates under 20.

Another 100GPH would be great, because puffers are EXTREMELY messy, and the extra filtration is a HUGE benefit.

[bertie 83]

What nuclear said lol. Always start with 50% weekly and go from there, once you are in the habit 5g won't take you long to change anyway. It's always better to change a little more if you can than not change enough

[Nuclear_Glitter]

It's always better to change a little more if you can than not change enough

+1 =]