ONLY Dwarf Indians in f/w?

[Sssnakemom31]

Hey, all ...

I am still doing research, and I keep getting conflicting information from different sources.

On the one hand, I have been told by the "guru" at my LFS that Dwarf Indians are the ONLY puffer you can keep totally fresh water, and even they, in his opinion, should have a TINY bit of salt in the water (to protect their skins and fight possible infections). I thought that several small puffers were fresh water species, including F8s? But I can't seem to get the real story with explanation.

Also, the same "guru" said that a F8 would tear up a tank, plants, ect - that they are very destructive. Is this true, or not?

I am eager to learn, just want the truth so I can make informed decisions!

[Hilly]

There are many species of freshwater puffer ranging from the 1" Dwarf Puffer to the 30" Mbu.

If you want to see the variety click on the pufferpedia in the learn link at the top.

F8's are found in freshwater and brackish in the wild but do best in a low end brackish tank in captivity for longevity.

F8's are generally very easy going but it all depends on personality on whether you get a plant biter or not.

[pufferpuggirl]

Not to put your "guru" down, but I have found that most LFS's don't know much about puffers. When I first got involved with puffers, I put all my trust in a man that said he had been keeping puffers for more than 30 years, I figured he MUST know his stuff and so I began taking his advice. Not to put the blame elsewhere, but looking back on things, I think I could have saved several of my puffers if I hadn't taken his advice. He advised me to use certain medications that I now know aren't puffer safe, and other advice that just contradicts what I know about puffers now. So, while I'm sure this "guru" means well .... please be careful what advice you take from him.
When I first went to buy a dwarf puffer, the guy at the LFS (different from the other LFS I mentioned) told me that ALL puffers are brackish. Thankfully I had done some research and knew that wasn't entirely true.

Each puffer has his/her own personality and character, so it's difficult to say this one will do this or won't do that, however, I've never heard of an F8 being destructive in a tank. Now a Fahaka, well that's a different story.

And by the way --

[Pufferpunk]

FW puffers: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/
There is absolutely no reason to add salt to a healthy tank of fish:
library/misc/thesaltoftheearth/

[JRC3]

Just lurk through the forums here for a while and also go to http://www.dwarfpuffers.com as I've received nothing but solid information from both.

What size tank are you considering?

[RTR]

I am perfectly willing to be unkind and non-generous. The so-called "guru" at your LFS is a fool and an idiot, at least where puffers are concerned. Never accept any information from someone who makes that sort of statement. The family which includes puffers is definitely one which arose in salt water, but there are quite a few real FW puffer species which arose as purely FW fish a very long time ago and which will not "do better" with salt in the water.

Mythology is a real problem in this hobby.

[Pufferpunk]

Yeah, the second someone tells me to put salt in the water for "tonic", I stop listening...

[Sssnakemom31]

You know, it can be so hard to find the truth out here ... this guy at my LFS is very respected in the fish community, has had articles published (I have been told all this by other people, not him tooting his own horn - LOL!) and generally, I feel, gives pretty sound advice. But I have also read online that F8s are DEFINITELY freshwater puffers, whereas here, they are said to be brackish. So ... I just want to do right by whatever I get!!

I have put a lot of consideration into this well-planted tank, trying to make it heaven for a puffer ... granted, it is only 5.5 gallons, but hey ... so doing brackish isn't really something I want to do, given the plants. The only FW puffers I can find are the Dwarf Indians, and I say "find" loosely: I have 2 stores trying to get them in, and can't seem to!! So I was trying to see if there were another option in case I strike out. Have never seen the red-eyed ones around here, anyway.

Thanks for all the help - I really appreciate it!!

[purplecandle]

I do not think your guru is a complete idiot...

But, has your guru written about puffers???

I am sure he has not, but if you look above you, people that have responded to you about puffers, have indeed written articles about puffers...there is the difference...

However, you only have 5.5 gallons..so you won't need to go brackish, because you can only fit a dwarf puffer in there (Freshwater)..to my knowledge no brackish puffers would fit in a 5.5..

[JRC3]

Well luckily you only have one choice in a 5.5g between a DP and F8...

I hope you enjoy your little DP when you get him, they are great fish and he won't shy away a single bit when you go to the tank.

[Pufferpunk]

Yes, I'd be interested to look up those articles...

[Flutter]

Purplecandle is right. you'd only be able to fit a DP in that tank, no other puffers would be suitable. DPs are awesome little fish though.

[RTR]

Ask the "guru" how long he has maintained F-8s in captivity. If his answer is that they average less than 15 years, he does not know what he is tanking about, and if he is handing out bad advice he is either an idiot or a fool.

Unfortunately, the hobby mags do not always offer wise counsel and advice. They will edit edit even the best writers and downgrade the value of their work. Believe it or not, I have known a number of highly knowledgeable folks who will not write for the hobby commercial press,for exactly that reason.

[Pufferpunk]

I was furious when my GSP artivle was edited to include Ceylons as the same species!

[RTR]

What was done to that article by PP was more icing on the cake of my long-ago decision not to write for the commercial hobby lit. I do not need that sort of frustration in my life.