just a few questions on dwarf puffers

[maxima423]

hey guys, i am new here and too puffers, so any help would do, i plan on setting up a 10g tank around next week with and planning to put in 1 dwarf puffer, the questions i have are:

1) do corys go well with puffers? i ask this questions because i know they are messy eaters, so i was just wondering if corys would go well so i would not have to use a hose to filter out the sand

2) what kind of filter should i buy for a 10g tank? i sort of need to know this before i start my cycling

3) would a 10g tank bold well for a dwarf puffer? i know they dont get to be that big ( like 1 inch right? ) so i was just wondering=P

4) i plan on putting some java fern as well,so i was just wondering what plants you guys use for your puffers?

5) for the first few days or so i will probably guess that the new DP will be pretty scared, so i was wondering how you guys would feed the puffer? i was thinking about putting a couple of snails so the puffer would have food available when ever it feels like eating

6) do i need a lid for my tank?

7) are dwarf puffers poisonous?

if i have any more questions, i will just post more, otherwise thnx for your time ^_^

[Rusty]

Hey

Welcome to the forum.
This is a great read about fishless cycling
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
Im not sure about the cories. As for a filter i would go with an aquaclear20\30 they are effective and not to badly priced. A ten gallon would be fine. The general rule for dwarfs is five gallons a fish, but if you plan on more than one in this tank you need to create hiding spots and plants to cut down on sightlines. Just about any of the aquatic mosses, swords, vals/sag, and grasses most aquarium stores carry will do( just make sure they are actually aquatic).

Some puffers do produce toxins, but they are only a problem if eaten. Puffer toxins come from their wild food source and slowly lose this in captivity. though i dont know if dwarfs do this anyway.

Feeding really depends on what he is used to. Most of these guys willgo crazy for blackworms,and other livefoods.
As for a top i would say yes , not only for the fish but you are going to need light forthose plants.
I would check Craigs list for the tank and hood, used ten gallons go really cheap.

[maxima423]

Hey

Welcome to the forum.
This is a great read about fishless cycling
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
Im not sure about the cories. As for a filter i would go with an aquaclear20\30 they are effective and not to badly priced. A ten gallon would be fine. The general rule for dwarfs is five gallons a fish, but if you plan on more than one in this tank you need to create hiding spots and plants to cut down on sightlines. Just about any of the aquatic mosses, swords, vals/sag, and grasses most aquarium stores carry will do( just make sure they are actually aquatic).

Some puffers do produce toxins, but they are only a problem if eaten. Puffer toxins come from their wild food source and slowly lose this in captivity. though i dont know if dwarfs do this anyway.

Feeding really depends on what he is used to. Most of these guys willgo crazy for blackworms,and other livefoods.
As for a top i would say yes , not only for the fish but you are going to need light forthose plants.
I would check Craigs list for the tank and hood, used ten gallons go really cheap.

yea, http://www.dwarfpuffers.com/ says that otos are good tank mates for DP'ers, so i will be adding 1 or 2 most definitely, the filter that you suggested seems real good, i am going to be buying that this weekend most likely, thnx so much for the help ^_^

[lilacamy931]

Hello

1) cories it depends on your puff's personality. Most will be buzzsaws and tear up, some may work but it would be a risk and need back up plan. I kept two DPs successfully with panda cories but then again it was an absolute jungle at the time, also have to consider that DPS gain confidence and aggressiveness with time, so one day fine and the next day mayhem! Just keep up on water changes and good filter. If have one DP or even 2 can spot feed make things easier.
2) Any filters sized for a 10g or above are suitable, over filtration is better. I used fluval plus range for mine with no problems
3) perfect for a DP, as above general rule 5g per puff, so two would do well as long as well decorated.
4) Anything and everything! Depends what look you like, want easy plants etc. Used java fern, moss, swords, vallis, etc.
5)Depends on the puff, keep lights off on introduction till next day if possible, I have personally found these to be quite daring puffs and never too shy
6)Yes, any fish have potential to jump and puffers especially, I have had a DP jump and die of the consequences.
7)hmmmm...not to tocuh would be my guest, never really thought of it. Just dont eat one.
With feeding I found useful to use a turkey baster, it helps to approach where they are and gently squirt some out

[maxima423]

Hello

1) cories it depends on your puff's personality. Most will be buzzsaws and tear up, some may work but it would be a risk and need back up plan. I kept two DPs successfully with panda cories but then again it was an absolute jungle at the time, also have to consider that DPS gain confidence and aggressiveness with time, so one day fine and the next day mayhem! Just keep up on water changes and good filter. If have one DP or even 2 can spot feed make things easier.
2) Any filters sized for a 10g or above are suitable, over filtration is better. I used fluval plus range for mine with no problems
3) perfect for a DP, as above general rule 5g per puff, so two would do well as long as well decorated.
4) Anything and everything! Depends what look you like, want easy plants etc. Used java fern, moss, swords, vallis, etc.
5)Depends on the puff, keep lights off on introduction till next day if possible, I have personally found these to be quite daring puffs and never too shy
6)Yes, any fish have potential to jump and puffers especially, I have had a DP jump and die of the consequences.
7)hmmmm...not to tocuh would be my guest, never really thought of it. Just dont eat one.
With feeding I found useful to use a turkey baster, it helps to approach where they are and gently squirt some out

yea i was thinking the same exact thing with the cories, i will be trying it after i cycle my tank most likely

thnx A LOT!!!

[LilGreenPuffer]

hey guys, i am new here and too puffers, so any help would do, i plan on setting up a 10g tank around next week with and planning to put in 1 dwarf puffer, the questions i have are:

1) do corys go well with puffers? i ask this questions because i know they are messy eaters, so i was just wondering if corys would go well so i would not have to use a hose to filter out the sand

2) what kind of filter should i buy for a 10g tank? i sort of need to know this before i start my cycling

3) would a 10g tank bold well for a dwarf puffer? i know they dont get to be that big ( like 1 inch right? ) so i was just wondering=P

4) i plan on putting some java fern as well,so i was just wondering what plants you guys use for your puffers?

5) for the first few days or so i will probably guess that the new DP will be pretty scared, so i was wondering how you guys would feed the puffer? i was thinking about putting a couple of snails so the puffer would have food available when ever it feels like eating

6) do i need a lid for my tank?

7) are dwarf puffers poisonous?

if i have any more questions, i will just post more, otherwise thnx for your time ^_^

1. Most DPs are unlikely to get along well with cories. TBH, a clean-up crew is mostly pointless in FW. The fish will still poop, and you'll still have to vacuum. (Unless your tank is very heavily planted and you're not getting nitrates! I don't vacuum my tank because the plants process all the extra nitrates.) If you want something to eat algae, otocinclus catfish are perfect for a DP tank (for some reason, DPs don't bother them... it's weird), but you shouldn't get them for several months, until you have lots of algae established, since they might not accept pellets. Pellets aren't as good for them as real algae anyway.
2. Anything that turns over 100 gallons per hour should be enough. Get a high-quality one, even if it's more expensive; it'll last longer, and you won't regret it.
3. Bold well? I'm not sure what you're talking about... But a 10g is fine. I have a single one in a 10g.
4. Java fern, crinkly java fern, java moss, flame moss, water wisteria, crypts, Amazon ferns, ozelot...
5. Live snails are great. But if it doesn't eat for the first few days, no worries. It'll eat when it's hungry enough, and it won't be hurt by a few days of starvation.
6. Absolutely! Fish jump, covers keep spills or dead bugs out, and covers also reduce evaporation.
7. Nope. Captive-bred puffers have no toxins. Wild-caught ones will lose their toxins over time. But it'll only hurt you if you eat certain parts of it, and I'm sure you don't plan on doing that!

[maxima423]

hey guys, i am new here and too puffers, so any help would do, i plan on setting up a 10g tank around next week with and planning to put in 1 dwarf puffer, the questions i have are:

1) do corys go well with puffers? i ask this questions because i know they are messy eaters, so i was just wondering if corys would go well so i would not have to use a hose to filter out the sand

2) what kind of filter should i buy for a 10g tank? i sort of need to know this before i start my cycling

3) would a 10g tank bold well for a dwarf puffer? i know they dont get to be that big ( like 1 inch right? ) so i was just wondering=P

4) i plan on putting some java fern as well,so i was just wondering what plants you guys use for your puffers?

5) for the first few days or so i will probably guess that the new DP will be pretty scared, so i was wondering how you guys would feed the puffer? i was thinking about putting a couple of snails so the puffer would have food available when ever it feels like eating

6) do i need a lid for my tank?

7) are dwarf puffers poisonous?

if i have any more questions, i will just post more, otherwise thnx for your time ^_^

1. Most DPs are unlikely to get along well with cories. TBH, a clean-up crew is mostly pointless in FW. The fish will still poop, and you'll still have to vacuum. (Unless your tank is very heavily planted and you're not getting nitrates! I don't vacuum my tank because the plants process all the extra nitrates.) If you want something to eat algae, otocinclus catfish are perfect for a DP tank (for some reason, DPs don't bother them... it's weird), but you shouldn't get them for several months, until you have lots of algae established, since they might not accept pellets. Pellets aren't as good for them as real algae anyway.
2. Anything that turns over 100 gallons per hour should be enough. Get a high-quality one, even if it's more expensive; it'll last longer, and you won't regret it.
3. Bold well? I'm not sure what you're talking about... But a 10g is fine. I have a single one in a 10g.
4. Java fern, crinkly java fern, java moss, flame moss, water wisteria, crypts, Amazon ferns, ozelot...
5. Live snails are great. But if it doesn't eat for the first few days, no worries. It'll eat when it's hungry enough, and it won't be hurt by a few days of starvation.
6. Absolutely! Fish jump, covers keep spills or dead bugs out, and covers also reduce evaporation.
7. Nope. Captive-bred puffers have no toxins. Wild-caught ones will lose their toxins over time. But it'll only hurt you if you eat certain parts of it, and I'm sure you don't plan on doing that!

1) i plan to put a couple of plants, i am looking around for what to put, but there will surely be plants ^_^
4) yes those plants are on my list ^_^
5) this might sound weird, but is there a possibility that the snails might crawl out of the tank lol? if its not covered
7) awesome =]

thnx for the help ^_^

[lilacamy931]

best luck plant searching, setting up a tank is definately exciting. As to the snails. I have had ramshorns, assasins, apples, pond, nerite and none have ever escaped even with the chance! I have found with certain species they like to come near the water line at times on their travels and may even dip out of the water but never any travellers far from that water line, hope that helps

[Brent]

The aquatic snails I used to have crawled up the glass, and sometimes out of the water a little, but never stayed out of it for long.

As for plants, go here for some ideas: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/foru ... antfinder/

^Just change the difficulty to fit what you are capable of caring for and click "go."

[pufferpuggirl]

I've never had any snails going AWOL -- however I do frequently find earthworms throughout the house!