The Puffer Forum

I recently purchased three baby dwarf puffers about 2 cm each. They are living in black sand with standard tropical temperature, and lots of plastic plants and hideaways. Additionally, the puffers are not very "social" quite yet. Is this because they are brand new, or because they are babies? I would like some suggestions.
Thanks !

Because they are brand new. It can take more than a month for them to become social so don't worry!
How big is your tank?

Is this because they are brand new, or because they are babies? I would like some suggestions.

i have a bloodparrot that took a year to not be shy, now he greets me and comes to the glass without taking off

the tank is 10 gallons. I cycled with bio-spira and they are not too interested in eating brine shrimp....

Keep track of your parameters, even with biospira, a small blip in ammonia and nitrite will occur, which could slow them down in eating early on.

If you can, do try some live plants, DP's really appreciate them it provides
"moving" cover and as they so intensely curious, somehting to investigate,
in my opinion the plastic ones don't offer this.

Regarding food, bloodworm, bloodworm, bloodworm, it's the staple for them
and I don't know of many who refuse it, after they have settled, try using a
cocktail stick to stuff small snail shells with bloodworm and tiny shreds of mussel or
cockle, mine love these snacks and it got them used to chomping the snails for
dental purposes !!

Chris

I added some live plants (2) and am curious as to how to prune them and cut them correctly, without bringing dirty scissors into the aquarium. Additionally, the puffers are a bit nervous of the problem snails i added; that is, they will not touch them. However, they look carefully.

ah, i have been in your situation before. your biospira thing is going to help in the long run but for as well as it works WATCH carefully now. even though it claims to be natural (which it is) it is still adding the unnatural bacteria that you may or may not have developed from your fish months later. just watch the parameters like said before. the sand idea is awesome. keep with that. and use live plants. live live live live live. i had a fully planted aquarium for mine and they did great. if its only a ten gallon you can get a really nice full plant setup for less than 50$. it is just going to add so much oxygen, nutrients, and occasional treats to the tank. and ask the person getting them for you at the store to check for snail eggs and if they dont or dont know what your talking about, then its not worth buying from them. either check yourself, go to a grower, or get them from me. (snail free) vary the diet with a lot of protein at first, obvi.

that was my situation, it worked amazing. little guys had such attitude. i kinda miss them actually. but anyway, good luck..your doing the right thing and its great to hear that people are taking care of them the way they should!