The Puffer Forum

Would it be possible to keep 3 DPs in a 5.5 gallon tank with 50% water changes weekly? It's way overfiltered, and there are plenty of hiding places. I want to plant it, but for now there are only fake plants in the tank. I carefully monitor my puffers during feeding time, and remove uneaten food from the tank. If I were able to find 3 docile DPs that got along okay and planted my tank, could I do it? Maybe if I did 75% water changes weekly?

Any advice appreciated.

I wouldn't. Your fish will definitely be stunted in that size tank, and will be much happier in a 10. Even 2 in a 5 is pushing it.

You can keep 2, with weekly 75% or so changes, I'd say. Filtration has little to do with stunting unfortunately, it's for visual removal of solid wastes(making the water look pretty) and water circulation. Stunting factors are primarily dissolved organics only water changes(or skimmers or live rock in SW) remove. I put one DP in a 2.5 and even with twice weekly 75% changes he ended up slightly stunted. A ten gallon is the same price as a 5.5 or cheaper, why not use one of them? A ten gallon with 75% weekly water changes, even with the same filtration and lighting as you would have on the 5.5, would support 3 DPs much better. The 2.5 was at over 4wgp and HEAVILY planted, so I don't think the plants reduce stunting factors much.

people end up not doing water changes that often though, im not saying he wont, but it just ends up being so much work. i tried it once and it was just a whoe lot easier to get a bigger tank, and even the fish are happer and you are happier for doing less mess of a water change. it all works out better in the end

you also have to consider the territorial requirements of fish, if they feel too cramped they will be stressedand therefore will suffer health issues or worst case endup fighting and bith dying from the injuries