Give Me DPs or Give Me Death!

[Pufferoni]

I am setting up a 10g tank for a couple of dwarf puffers.

It's already cycled. Nh3 0, No2 0, No3 5
It has a 20g HOB.
50 watt heater.
Rocks for caves.
Fake plants.

DPs are rated at 1/5g. Can I put 3 DPs in?

I will re-familiarize myself with the feeding requirements before purchase.

I have never had real plants before .

My lights are two of those little twin tube florescent bulbs. They are DIY that came with the setup. They have been mounted in a standard light hood. The package says 13 watts each with a light temp of 41k.

Do you think this is sufficient. Is there anything else I need to know about plants.

Also I saw some water lettuce up for sale locally. I know they get big but right now they are small and since they multiply I thought I could just cull them if when they get too big. They look so cool . I know I'd love em if I was a fish.

Thanks.

Anything else I need to do.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Boxermom]

Three in a 10 should be fine. On dwarfpuffers.com, we usually recommend 1 per 3g, but the more room you can give them, the better. They don't care about how much light you have, so if you have fake plants, stock lighting is fine. The only thing about plants is to have a LOT of them, especially if you get three DPs.

[The Fisherman]

The only thing about plants is to have a LOT of them, especially if you get three DPs.

I will second this. I had 2 DPs in a 6g that was jam packed with decor and live plants, although I got unlucky enough to get an evil male, who thought it was his mission in life to make sure the female could not eat any food. He also chased her constantly.

I ended up moving the male to another tank, where he was by himself.

Although I just recently lost the female to IPs , so the male is back in tghe 6g.

[Hilly]

I suddenly have an urge to go and watch Porky's on DVD

[Pufferoni]

WhooooHoooo!!!

I went to a LFS today(Big Als)I got

They had about 20 1" GSPs and about 30 1" F8s.

I found a tank marked for DPs, but I could only see one in it. I asked a near by fish guy how many there were in there.

He said "I don't know there shouldn't be any."

I told him that I could see at least one.

He said (I hope you are ready for this) "Oh someone must have thrown them in there as FOOD for the eels."

I almost slapped him. I told him to take out the decor and give me every Puffer in the tank. I got two sorta sickly ones and I left behind an almost dead one as I didn't think I could help it.

I got them home and they have perked up, their colour has come back they are busy exploring their new home and chasing blood worms. One had a worm in it's mouth that was bigger than itself. They have also been hunting around and pecking at something in the gravel. I have a small colony of pond snails in the tank too.

They are 1cm long tail and all. For you Amerkans, that's 3/8 of an inch. The are so cute. I have given them Hindi names. Choti(small) and Lall(beloved).

I am so happy. Finally I can call myself Pufferoni with pride.

[Myaj]

Congradulations!

Now... pictures, man, pictures!

[Hilly]

Congratulations on your purchase.

[puffergeek]

Congratulations! DPs are awesome... "food for eels" indeed!

If you want to start with easy, low light plants I recommend cryptocorynes or java ferns. I've had good luck with crypts and "stock" florescent lights.