Community puffer

[alexk3303]

I have a 20gal freshwater tank. I want it to have a puffer and some other fish (I'm think moi and a catfish) What puffer would be a good choice for me? Also what fish cooperate best with puffers?

Thanks in advance!

[julianchan]

Between the moi and catfish, I dont think you have any space left over for a puffer. They get fairly big too. Will a 20g support them? Not many puffers will get along with any other tank mates. Big chance of all their tankmates getting eaten. Dwarf puffers might be about your only choice.

[kelsi.nikoel]

Dwarf Puffers
I have three but havent found any good tankmates except maybe an oto

[Pufferpunk]

Dwarf puffers are vicious little fin nippers. Don't let their small size fools you. Do you have any fish in there now?

[alexk3303]

There are not any fish in there yet. What fish I get is still up for debate I really woulld like a puffer, but I don't know of any that wouldn't tear another fish into pieces.

[LilGreenPuffer]

I think you have to choose - puffers or community.

[pufferpuggirl]

Maybe the Dwarf puffers I have are from some other planet because I have mine housed with other fish all the time and there's never any fin-nipping. I think having a tank well-planted helps too. But I've got about 10 Dwarf puffers in my big community tank and they keep to themselves, in fact, if they are chasing any other fish, it's another puffer! I know everyone thinks they are so nasty and horrible, but in my experience (with my puffers from outer-space) I've had all sorts of fish in with my Dwarf puffers, and haven't had any problems at all. The only thing they seem to get after is the snails, and that's what puffers do. Maybe if you have only one Dwarf he will harass the other fish, but I always keep more than 3 Dwarf puffers in the same tank, they seem to enjoy having others of their kind around. I have a pack of four that move about together in one of my tanks, and I just don't see them nipping any fins at all!

[julianchan]

I think it depends on what kind of fish you have in your tank, and having a very well planted tank does help quite a lot. Anything with long fins are at risk. Otherwise, they do leave things well enough alone. At least mine did. Any kind of algae eating shrimp are great with them...ghost shrimp not so much cuz they compete for food, though, in a bigger tank, its not a huge issue.

[kelsi.nikoel]

I have more trouble trying to find fish that wont harrass my dwarf puffer , but it is only the size of my fingernail lol

[CaptainMorgan_SOS]

I am partial to figure 8s... you should get one of them and a few BBGs!!

I would getsome for my tank, but i am at max capacity... until i get the 55 Gallon up and running

[kelsi.nikoel]

Just so you know alexk3303, Figure8s are BW, but would make a good choice.

[alexk3303]

What about the amazon puffer? I hear they are freshwater and good community fish (I can do without the community though, maybe just the little catfish though, or another of the same species)

And thanks guys for all the advice

[kelsi.nikoel]

From what Ive heard about them, an amazon puffer(SAP) probably would not work for a 20gal. They require 15 gal a peice (maybe 10 gal for each additional puffer). They get bored easily and like to be in groups of their own kind, and you could only keep one in a 20 gal. You could do it, but it may not be a really happy puffer.

[julianchan]

Also, another thing to keep in mind with SAP's are teeth trimming. Its something that needs to be done more often with this breed than any other.

[alexk3303]

What about the golden puffer. I hear they are some that don't grow more then a inch and a half. Can anyone confirm that? How many of those do you think I could safely house in my tank?