dwarf puffer

[AthrunZala]

what r the requirements for dwarf puffers ex. wat gallon tank and so on becuase i think imma get a few 1 or 2

[pufferpuggirl]

You could have a couple in a 10-gallon tank, but I would not put much more in. They would also appreciate lots of plants too. Puffers like complex environments that they can explore.

[2jane]

I'm getting a few soon, too!
You can put 2 or 3 in a 10 gallon tank. If you want other fish (the only other "good" tankmate is an Otto catfish, aka "suckerfish"), I'd stick with 2. My tank will have 2 dwarf puffers and 2 or 3 Ottos.
As for filters, I was recommended the AquaClear- in a 10 gallon tank, the AquaClear 20 is good. Run it on full strength because pufferfish excrete a lot of ammonia, and they're messy eaters.
As schismy said, puffers likes lots of breaks in their line of sight, so put lots of plants (real or fake, doesnt matter) and caves and things. You can even stick cave-shaped household items in (like a small tera cotta plant pot), as long as you clean them beforehand. Dont use soap, use rubbing alcohol or salt.
Be sure to read up on cycling- you need to cycle the water, whether with SafeStart or through natural means, before you introduce them.
Good luck with your puffers!

[LilGreenPuffer]

There are many articles and species profiles in the Library and PufferPedia that you should read. They will help you a lot.

[AthrunZala]

would you consider dwarf puffers good for a beginner to puffers

[AthrunZala]

also what food can i give it that would wear down its teeth cause i read that they suck snails out of their shells.

[Natty]

I would say that many puffers are pretty hardy given that the tank is fully cycled and you QT the puffer. Quarantine that is. Dwarf puffers are definitely good beginner puffers because they don't require much space and tank maintenance because of their size. I don't think dwarf puffers have overgrown beak problems as much as their larger cousins but feeding them a few pond/ramshorn snails here and there should be good enough, nothing to worry about.

They're also fairly cheap and very cute.

By the way, hopefully you've checked out http://www.dwarfpuffers.com , they got a lot of good info there specifically about dwarfies.

[AthrunZala]

How do i quarantine a dwarf puffer? Can anyone please give me steps.

[LilGreenPuffer]

You don't need to quarantine when you're starting a tank from scratch. You'll need to quarantine when you're adding new fish to a setup that already has fish in it.

[Natty]

How do i quarantine a dwarf puffer? Can anyone please give me steps.

Many people are very careful when getting new fish and they always utilize the quarantining method which is keeping a fish around for a month or so in another cycled tank and observing it for any signs of illness. From my experience with dwarf puffers, IP aka internal parasites are common and I always treat new puffers for IP. So far I'm using the jungle tabs. You'll really know your puffer has IP when they have a sunken stomach, which can sometimes be mistaken for a puffer that hasn't been fed for awhile. However, it'll concave inwards and look unsightly and gives a very unhealthy look because puffers are cute when fat . You'll also know they really have IPs is that after being fed, their stomachs will quickly get back to its sunken state, in about a day or so.

Anyway, when you buy new fish just put it in another tank and QT them for awhile. Many people don't without problems, but many people don't want to risk it especially if they have pricey fish or simply because they care for their pets so much to risk it. But puffers, I'd personally QT them, I mostly have IP problems with puffers. Make sure your QT is cycled.

If your fish is already in the tank with fish that are already infected, you should just save time and treat them all in the tank so they won't reinfect. QT mainly means you're observing a fish or a group of fish for any problems before adding it into your real tank.

[AthrunZala]

Can anyone please recommend a good conditioner for dp or even any puffer. I am asking this because there are a lot of condiotioners out there and i want to get a good one. If someone reply to this question can they please tell me the brand and maybe a picture of it.

[Bluntokian]

As far as I know. Theyre all the same. But API is my personal preference.

[AthrunZala]

so when i am buying a conditioner there is no special one for puffers. Do i just get brand because if there is a brand that is really good ex. people you instant ocean salt. SO is there a conditioner that is by a good brand?

[Lil' Swimz$]

I really like Tetra Aqua Safe, but I know PP thinks that its a piece a crap. She, and many others prefer Prime.

[Pufferpunk]

I wouldn't clean anything going into my tank with rubbing alcohol--especially something porus, like a terra cotta pot. Only use a new pot, never one that had a plant in it.