The Puffer Forum

What are dwarf puffers like? How easy are they to care for? What could I do with them in a 10g? Can I keep just one? What sort of (small!) tankmates are suited for them? Do they have strong personalities, like larger puffers? How hardy are they? (I've read the Pedia article.)

They're pretty great in ten gallon tanks. Oto catfish and shrimp make good tankmates, but results on most fish are not good over time. Very good personalities.

Are they very hard/complicated to care for? On a scale of 1-10, if a guppy is a 1 and a Mbu is a 10, where do they fall? I thought puffers would be out of the question for several years, but I'm thinking about these guys now. Idk. I may just see how I do with guppies or mollies for a while, considering my track record

Considering its a 10 gallon tank.....and its going to be your only tank...I would rate 1 DP in that tank an 8. I would rate a male and a female DP in there a 10......with plants (fake or real) and decorations of course.

For serioreal? Dang. I mean, a Mbu sounds crazy, over-the-top hard, since the tank is so huge and probably a B to clean and whatnot. So, they're that tough... Ouch.

Oh, sorry, I misread it, I am tired....my bad...care...about a 2 or 3....water changes every week....if you have live plants, care goes up a little....

My rating was for loveability!

They sound awesome, especially in a pair. I just saw the post with the DP breeding video. So, where on that scale is a GSP? That's the only species I've had experience with, so that might help me gauge, too. (I don't want to jump into this one.)

yeah some just rolled into my lfs and i was considering one but then i noticed a post it " hold all dwarf puffers for Dave" and im thinking ... what? so i go up to my buddy barbie and she see me coming and she says " i know right thats 20 dps, we dont think he wants them all he just wants the pick of the litter." so i sulked around for a bit and then made them promise not to sell all 20 to him and they had to stick up another post it with the forum on it and that they would need at least a 30 to live happily. then i bought there stock of vampire shrimp and some Texas holy rock ( my puffer and polypterous love the stuff.) and leave feeling contended so if Dave shows up with issues with is 20 dps we know why.

I'd put GSP's at maybe a 4 or 5, and thats just because of watching the salinity change, but to be quite honest, its not that hard.... its just setting up and cycling the tank to begin with that you have to take care with

So, how likely are they to breed without any coaxing? 'Cause that might be a bad idea.

As far as I know.....easy, yet not at the same time. There has been a degree of success from what I hear from one of my LFS's with DP's for the trade, but at home, I don't know so much. Look at it this way...if they breed, you can always trade it for something at your LFS...maybe.

The Pedia article reccomended keeping two females to one male to help with aggressive behavior. Is a 10g still okay?

its recommended 3-5 gals per DP, so it should be fine. But I think that ratio only applies to when you have more than 1 male in the tank. 1 and 1 should be fine too.

Thanks, folks. I'll think about this one. I may be back with more Q's about these guys... Idk! I'm just a little scared of killing another puffer!