A begginer puffer for a begginer keeper?

[FrogkiPuffer]

Anyone got a suggestion for a begginer puffer? Would a figure 8 puffer be a good begginer puffer?

[pufferpuggirl]

I think the best beginner puffer is a Dwarf puffer. They are hardy, easy to care for, you don't need to add salt to the tank, and you don't need a big tank.

[FrogkiPuffer]

Yes, but are they as interactive as the figure 8 puffer fish? I like them too, and I want to be able to meet the fishes needs too, but I also want a fish that grows close with me... For instance, I have heard of a figure 8 pufferfish jumping to eat from her owners hands lol... I was planning on getting a dwarf puffer but I wanted to get something that would really be personable... Is the dwarf puffer like that?
Frog

[pufferpuggirl]

What you have to understand is that what someone else has gotten their puffer to do, doesn't mean that yours will do the same. I think that Dwarf puffers are very personable and I have been very entertained by them. I prefer to keep them in groups, and I think that's how you will see their characteristics the best, instead of being kept singularly and all alone. You asked which is the best puffer for a beginner and that's why I responded with the Dwarf species. I think that once you've had the Dwarf puffers for a while, and you've proved that you can keep them, then maybe you could move on to the Figure 8's.

Obviously it's up to you which puffer you decide you want to get, but I would say to give the Dwarf a chance, they are very cute and quite smart, and they always put a smile on my face.

[FrogkiPuffer]

Okay I like em, I just want em to be personable, but I did want one... Maybe I'll get two, how many gallons do I have to have for two of em? How many do you suggest keeping, and what paremeters do I have to have? I'm just asking based on your experience I'm obviously also going to check out the pufferpedia...

[pufferpuggirl]

Well I don't remember what the PufferPedia says, but I kept 5 in a 15-gallon tank for a while, then they were all moved to another tank to live with my South American puffers. But I think you see more of their antics when you've got a group, and I also believe that they enjoy being in a group too -- at least mine seem to enjoy it.
As for parameters, just like with any puffer, you want "0" ammonia & nitrites, and the preferably the nitrates below 20ppm (but some people, like myself, have nitrates coming out of the tap at 40ppm - so not much you can do really and I don't believe in using chemicals to alter pH, or nitrates, etc.). As long your tank was cycled properly, all the parameters should be fine anyway. Dwarf puffers don't require much, just the basics, and I think you will find that they are quite entertaining.

[FrogkiPuffer]

Okay, cool, I just need to get a tank now, about how many would you suggest for a 20 gallon tank?

[pufferpuggirl]

You could aim for having 2 males and 5 females, that would make a nice pack! I've got about 11 of them in my community tank and they actually hang about in big packs, and they all come to the front of the glass when it's meal time and start bobbing up and down -- funny to see!

Just remember that you need alot of plants and/or ornaments in your tank to break up line of sight. It will keep any potential aggression down and provide lots of hiding places for any shy ones you may have.

[FrogkiPuffer]

Okay, thanks a lot, do puffers actually learn who their owners are? And do you have specific decoration recomendations???

[bigfatfish]

Okay, thanks a lot, do puffers actually learn who their owners are? And do you have specific decoration recomendations???

My old GSP definitely knew me - he would rush to the front if I came near the tank, but if it was a stranger, he would hang back! I always told him not to speak to strangers!!

[pufferpuggirl]

What a good Mommy you are bigfatfish! Yes, I think puffers learn to recognise not just people, but some food containers, and they also know what time is meal time. I know mine do, when it's time for me to feed them, they all come out and pace the glass, it's so funny seeing nothing but puffers bobbing around all the tanks.

Frogi -- as to decorating .... that's entirely up to you. I was just saying it will be better if you use alot of plants and ornaments, because puffers like complex environments.

[FrogkiPuffer]

Okay, and about food, I need to provide them a couple of varied foods don't I? I don't know how to breed snails but I believe I can help control an algea population and breed them in my mollie/tigerbarb/cori catfish tank... I like these small yellow snails, but they looked way to big for my puffer, what do you suggest?
And I know, I'm just asking for suggestions... Along with that, do you believe I could find a tank for $50-$60 dollars? That's about how much I expect to get for my birthday... If not, what is the cheapest price you would expect to find?

[FrogkiPuffer]

Any advice on food for em???

[doraemon]

Make sure you cycle your tank before getting the puffer fish, you also need to buy a test kit alot of people use api master test kit which are the liquid drops. If you dont know how to cycle a tank look up the articles in the puffer library.Puffers will not survive a uncycled tank Theres also articles on how to sex the dwarf puffers so you know how to differentiate both when you are purchasing them.

Welcome to the puffer world hehe

[FrogkiPuffer]

Thanks, and I know what a cycled tank means, I just don't know what to do to really boost cycling, not neccesarrily speeding it up, but giving it the stuff to really get good nitrate nitrite and amonia levels... Could anyone suggest a diet plan for dwarf puffers?