The Puffer Forum

I just bought 7 dwarf puffers and they are in my 10 gallon tank. I had them for about a week and a half now. I tried to feed them different foods but it doesnt seem to be working. The only thing they eat is crushed up snails. I try to feed them market prawn that i soaked in vitamin water, mussells i soak in vitamin water. Even without the vitamin water they wont eat it. I even try to feed them ghost shrimp that i have and they wont go near it. What should i do?

Too many puffers in such a small tank. That many puffers needs at least a 20gallon tank. They may be stressed from the move and the excessive tank mates. I would try some blood worms. That is what mine eat.

its heavily planted. I'll try blood worms. I have some in the freezer for my gsps sometimes.

You still want at least 3-5 gallons per puffer for comfort. They should enjoy the blood worms though.

I'd say that your tank is about 1/4 the size it should be for that many puffers. Can you return some of them? Will the store accept them?

groovitudedude wrote:I'd say that your tank is about 1/4 the size it should be for that many puffers. Can you return some of them? Will the store accept them?

i dont think so. I have a 20 gallon tank that is my quarantine tank. I could put them in there but its pretty naked.

Yes, but a DP will not do well with medication that is not necessary, meaning no QT tank. I'm sticking to my guns on this one, sorry guys.

groovitudedude wrote:Yes, but a DP will not do well with medication that is not necessary, meaning no QT tank. I'm sticking to my guns on this one, sorry guys.

there is just melafix and primafix in the qt tank. maybe a little aquarium salt. I can just do a big water change and that should be fine right?

Yes but they will stress out if there is no decor or anything. I'd do a big water change, and add a substrate and a few plants and then add them.

I agree with crazedpuffer. A 20G would be your absolute minimum tank size if it's heavily planted (looks like a jungle) and they are not all males! Otherwise there'll be trouble! Make sure you do many 50% WC at first to get rid of the medecine and also I hope no sick fish was in there lately that could have left some parasites in the QT tank?
DPs are notorious to be picky eaters. Bloodworms works for almost everybody. When they get used to the fact that what you put in the water is food, they'll be more open to try new things. Out of my 3 puffers 1 eats only bloodworms and snail, the other can have some mussel in addition and the last eats anything (even fish pellets, although that was just a test, that's not his stapple food!!!)

Good luck!

I have some dwarf puffers in a 29g tank and some live plants and java moss in there for them. They definitely need some hiding spots. I find that mine eat snails, bloodworms, live blackworms and they love live brine shrimp.