The Puffer Forum

First off, hi! I found this site from the forums on fishlore.com after deciding I wanted puffers. I'm not new to keeping fish, and have a 55g with Tanganyika Cichlids back home (I'm off at college, out of the dorms, with my own place) and had 20-30 gallon tanks growing up. I've been going over info on this site like crazy for the past day or two, so I thought I'd finally register. I have a good idea of what I want and what I'll need for them, but just wanted the experts to go over my checklist.

My tank started cycling last Friday, and I really had no idea what I wanted to have, until I saw puffers! My LFS carries dwarf puffers, so as soon as I'm done cycling, I'll be adding 3 Ottos, and the next week, 2 puffers.

My setup is a standard 10 gallon with small rock substrate. It currently has no hood/light combo, but I've picked that out as well (It's cycling using a UV lamp from one of my turtle habitats which is providing plenty of light and heat). I have a Marineland Penguin Biowheel 200, but understand this will produce quite a current for the little guys, so can I put foam over the intake/outlet to slow it down, or should I just go with a smaller filter?

So the list: 50watt Visi-Therm Stealth Heater, All-Glass Economy Full Hood, 2 Mini Compact Coralife Colormax Bulbs, and lots of live plants including Anubias Frazeri, Anubias Nana, Java Fern, an Amazon Sword, and Four Leaf Clover.

I attached a picture of the current setup with some basic rocks (I have plenty more and plan to make at least one small cave).

Am I missing anything? I want to be ready so when the cycle is over I can start adding fish. You know what they say, the wait is the hardest part...Thanks in advance!

My guys dont really like a high flow, so I make sure that my tank is filled up right to the lip of my filter. I have a tetra whisper power filter for a 20g on my 10g. If you can find a way to slow the flow, I don't see why not, but I don't know what the repercussions would be.

Sounds like you have pretty much everything. Just a thought....some Java moss might be nice, since they lay their eggs on mossy like surfaces....if you can get a male and female pair, that is. Good luck and have loads of fun with them!

One last question, will Julli Cory Cats get along in the tank? I really like them, and would much rather have a small school of 3 Jullis and 3 Ottos, and only one puffer as the showcase fish

Just wondering.

most of my hob filters have a flow knob on the top of the intake tube. Maybe you can slow the flow down that way.

I can't help you with the stocking but it might be a little high I don't know what the recomended tank size for a cory and otto are but i know that the dp will be 3 gallons himself so just stock acording what you know.

au01st wrote:One last question, will Julli Cory Cats get along in the tank? I really like them, and would much rather have a small school of 3 Jullis and 3 Ottos, and only one puffer as the showcase fish

Just wondering.

that should be fine. I have had julies and cories in a 5 gallon. they have a very small bioload.