How many DPs?

[kass]

Belack, you should also check out
pricenetwork.com they have a huge and quite active aquarium classified section. Also the KWAS forum (kitchener-water aquqrium society).

[Belack1120]

Seeing how I will have to buy a huge grow out tank for the DP babies I think that I will buy maybe three DPs while not trying to breed them. Or would I maybe be able to get a female red tail red eye puffer for the ten gallon. What do you think would be the better choice?

[Nick]

You don't really need a huge grow out tank, in fact that will make your life more difficult. They do not produce babies in swarms, only 6-12 eggs at a time, of which less than half are likely to produce tiny puffers, of which only a couple will survive to be large enough to feed on anything substantial. They also need to be separated by size group, as 3 week old babies eat two week old babies. If they start breeding, a system of small grow out tanks is much more optimal.

[Belack1120]

What size tank would you reccomend for the grow-out tank?

[Nick]

You're going to need a bunch, so something small, a 2.5 or a 5.5. I'd not get any until you see breeding behavior.

[Belack1120]

How many is a bunch?

[Nick]

Well, every group of hatchlings more than week or so apart needs a separate rearing tank, or the little ones will just get eaten by the bigger ones. So if they are spawning a few times a week, a half dozen would be a good start. Another reason small tanks are better is the daily large volume water changes usually needed for young fry.

[PuffTheMagicFishy]

I keep a single female C. irrubesco in a 10-gallon, and she's lots of fun.

[Belack1120]

Could I maybe set up a 15 or a 20 gallon so there won't be so many different tanks because I am very low on space right now?

[Nick]

That doesn't work, the big ones will eat the little ones, remember? Also, 20 gallon will require 10 or more gallons changed a day with fry in it, quite annoying. If you don't have much space, I'd recommend only collecting eggs every few months, all within a week, and raising them together in a 5.5 or ten until they are about 1/4", at which time they can be sorted out 3 to a ten gallon and treated as adults or re-homed however you plan on doing that. Or you could go with the "natural" method, where you just provide a LOT of java moss and home some babies make it large enough to remove to a rearing tank.

[Belack1120]

Thanks alot Nick I just went to the store that has some DPs but there was only one DP in the tank. It will be a little while until I get them but the chances of me getting them are very high

[Nick]

Glad they can get you DPs, hopefully soon