Dwarf Puffer with Cherry Shrimp
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 8:26 pm
I've been preparing a tank for some dwarf puffers for over a month now, and I finally got two of them today. That tank hasn't completely cycled yet, but I recently moved all of my guppies out of an already established tank, and so I'm temporarily housing the puffers in there.
The reason for getting them early was to help that guppy tank with a recent snail infestation. I also have cherry shrimp in there, as well as a population of scuds that I just noticed for the first time today (guppies were removed two days ago). But what I also noticed today was that one of the cherry shrimp just gave birth for the first time. Of course, I didn't notice that until after introducing the puffers.
I've been trying to get those shrimp to breed for months now, and eventually gave up hope. That's why I didn't mind introducing the puffers there (the adult shrimp are bigger than the puffers). But now that I know they're willing to breed, and the guppies were probably the reason they abandoned their eggs in the past (or the guppies just ate all the fry), I'm left with a dilemma, and looking for suggestions.
Do I move the puffers to another established tank? The problem here is that the only other tank "suitable" has 6 juvenile guppies (I suppose I could move those into my 75g community tank). Just concerned about the stress this will cause the puffers being moved from multiple tanks within a short time of period.
The option I'm leaning towards is putting more java moss into the current tank, and making it compact enough to where the baby shrimp can "thrive" and the puffers won't bother to break it up to find them. There are, of course, plenty of small snails in this tank to keep them occupied, but I know puffers are very inquisitive. What is your experience with puffers and how much they disrupt plants?
This is all a temporary situation until their main tank is cycled, but I would like to make their temporary home as good as possible, given the situation, for all inhabitants involved. Not worried about the scuds.
Only looking for constructive feedback.
The reason for getting them early was to help that guppy tank with a recent snail infestation. I also have cherry shrimp in there, as well as a population of scuds that I just noticed for the first time today (guppies were removed two days ago). But what I also noticed today was that one of the cherry shrimp just gave birth for the first time. Of course, I didn't notice that until after introducing the puffers.
I've been trying to get those shrimp to breed for months now, and eventually gave up hope. That's why I didn't mind introducing the puffers there (the adult shrimp are bigger than the puffers). But now that I know they're willing to breed, and the guppies were probably the reason they abandoned their eggs in the past (or the guppies just ate all the fry), I'm left with a dilemma, and looking for suggestions.
Do I move the puffers to another established tank? The problem here is that the only other tank "suitable" has 6 juvenile guppies (I suppose I could move those into my 75g community tank). Just concerned about the stress this will cause the puffers being moved from multiple tanks within a short time of period.
The option I'm leaning towards is putting more java moss into the current tank, and making it compact enough to where the baby shrimp can "thrive" and the puffers won't bother to break it up to find them. There are, of course, plenty of small snails in this tank to keep them occupied, but I know puffers are very inquisitive. What is your experience with puffers and how much they disrupt plants?
This is all a temporary situation until their main tank is cycled, but I would like to make their temporary home as good as possible, given the situation, for all inhabitants involved. Not worried about the scuds.
Only looking for constructive feedback.