Need dwarf puffer help!

[sharonm]

Well, I made a mistake and got green spotted puffers so have to take them back. I saw Indian Dwarf Puffers for sale, freshwater so I am going to try those. I have a 38 gallon. How many would you recommend? The other fish with them will be a Chinese Algae Eater, maybe. I have heard loaches are good with them. Is this true?

[edmlfc1]

You can do 1 dwarf puffer for every 3-5 gallons of water. And yes loaches and chinese algea eaters should be ok with the dwarfs.

[Pufferpunk]

Since it's best to keep 1 male to every 3 females, you might want to read the DP sexing article in our Library.

[Myaj]

I personally don't like chinese algae eaters (they have a rep for harassing other fish sometimes), but you could keep quite a few combos in there.

If you just want the puffers, then 9 would be an easy number (6 female, 3 male). If you want a few other species of non-nippy/aggressive fish, then obviously less dwarf puffers and be sure to take full grown sizes of the other species into consideration when choosing which types and how many.

I've kept dwarf puffers with some of the smaller tetras, rasboras, rainbowfish, loaches, etc. A full "dwarf" tank with dwarf puffers, dwarf corydoras and red cherry shrimp is just *perfect* in my opinion

One thing, dwarf puffers like a LOT of cover and things to explore. Live plants are best, but if you don't know anything about keeping those, just get lots and lots of fake ones. These guys will hunt for snails, shrimp, etc all day long.

[sharonm]

I have emailed the site to buy dwarfs requesting particular sexes of fish to buy but no response yet. I have a feeling it is whatever is sent. I am gong to start preparing the tank today. I am going to use play sand for substrate, fake driftwood as I have all my wood in my 75, and I tink a mix of fake and real plants, java, as I have just a stock light on the tank. I thought i would put logs to swim about in also. We will see! I am excited!

[sharonm]

Well. I did it! Went to aquariumfishnet and ordered 4 freshwater dwarf puffers. I cannot wait to get them but I will have today to get their tank ready. I am setting up a 38 gallon for the fish and picking up some live plants today. Should be fun!!!!!!I will most likely put ottos with them once the tank has settled with the sand. I am going to cycle using the filter media already on the filter and do it this way. I don't want any of the gravel already in the tank.

[Myaj]

Have you set up a tank with play sand before? Its very dirty and can compact down.. So you either need to stir it every week to stop pockets of anaerobic buildup or only do a 1/2 thick layer (but that won't work for planting plants).

I've done it in the past, and it worked, but it can be a pain.

Its best to wait a few months with otos, they don't do well in a newly set up tank. They need one that is stable and established with plenty of algae to eat, they are very fragile fish.

[pufferpuggirl]

I keep reading that Otos don't live very long because they need such a large amount of algae to feed on. I have steered away from buying any just for that reason. But having said that, I have read elsewhere that suggest Otos as tankmates to puffers.
Sharonm -- is the tank the puffers are going in already cycled? It almost sounded from what you said that it wasn't, and I would not suggest putting your puffers in a tank that is still cycling.

[sharonm]

Hi! It is a tank that has been used by convicts. I have just moved the convicts to a 55 and am preparing the tank for the puffers. The filter has old media in it so I am assuming the bacteria I need. I did remove the gravel as I am going to add a sandy beach area with gravel in the back so will take some gravel from other tanks and add for the bacteria. I will keep the chinese algae eater for now. I'm going to plant java fern in the gravel and have larger rocks in the sandy area. I'll keep on top of water changes, now I do it once a week. Saturdays!!!!!!! Love my 50 foot syphon! I can actually reach down to the basement where my 55 is set up! What are your feelings and thoughts on this? By the way, thanks for all of everybody's help! I am taking the GSP's to my stomping grounds, the lfs and I think the owner, who I only buy from, is taking them home so I feel much better on this. (Except for my impulse buying the GSP from Walmart) They are doing so well and eating great, I hate to lose them but know I cannot keep them the way they should be. The lfs owner said he would take my convicts so I could set up the tank for the GSP, but I have had them for 4 years and are really attached to them. They have a 55 for just them so they are happy!!!! I will post pics of the tank ready for the puffers. I am not buying Ottos, I do know they need a mature tank. i have set up a 14 gallon tank I am going to raise snails for the puffer's in. How many times a week should they get snails as a treat?