Dwarf Puffers - few Qs

[lilacamy931]

Hello!
I got my free tank today - yippe! The dimensions are 23" by 12" by 13" and equates to a 14 US gallon. This will be the tank I plan to put some dwarf puffs in (and after working out a list is likely to be set up and cycled by..mid June if goes well, the puffs being introduced June/July).

Plan on.. 3 dwarf puffers just by themselves. Did think could have four but was not sure if a good ratio?? Most the stores locally I have asked if stock say they can order them for me - do I make sure they retain them for a week to help with shock? What do I do about sexing ( I have read the articles and know what to look for) the problem i have is no one near stocks specially and may not have guareentees of good female to male ratio. Have one last place to source, fingers crossed this problem will be sorted.

The tank itself, have internal filter (will ensure there is cover so no sucking up of fish). It needs a new heater, will be installing amethyst gravel chips (my little bling factor ) and that is pretty much I think all is needed except the test kits, coniditoner, cycling,etc. I do know that it will need to have broken lines of sight and heavily decorated.

One question i did want to ask..I am going to end up with two tanks, one fresh for dwarfs and one brackish to marine later with a GSP. The test kits seem to be fresh or salt..can I get one for both? Or if not am I able to use the fresh for both tanks at the beginning as the GSP tank will be low brackish till he grows. If not then I will obtain the right ones for each tank (did just wonder).

Also if anyone is interested the magazine Pratical Fishkeeping Issue 5 has 4 page feature of dwarves. It does say in there that there are two versions of dwarf puffs. One is carinotetraodon travancoricus and the other carinotetraodon imitator. The article also mentions that there is a version of the travs that are traded as blue-spotted puffers but essentially same form but with iridescent b;ue green splotches rather than reddish brown - has any one heard this before - or is it common knowledge and just new to my learning?

[Myaj]

As far as the two "species", I don't know if its common knowledge but yes they are out there, but since they are so similar and the care is the same, no one really worries too much about it. There's even debate if they are different species or just color morphs.

Personally, I would not have the store hold them for you.. IMO, its better to get them home and into your own personal tank ASAP, heck, if you can be there when they unload their shipment and get them still packaged up from the supplier, even better! My theory on this is pretty simple.. the less transferring and water acclimations they have to do, the less stress.. AND of course, if they don't get exposed to the store's centralized filtration system, they won't be exposed to every disease and parasite that has ever been in that store. Sure they still may have something from the supplier, but the less exposure, the better.

For the test kits.. you'd probably have to read the descriptions. I am pretty sure my AP liquid test for nitrates came with cards for both salt and fresh.. can't think of if the other ones do off the top of my head.

If you're testing a brackish tank, its kind of a so/so type of thing.. freshwater tests are good to mid brackish (say 1.008 or 1.012ish) and after that you'll want to use marine tests (or the marine chart, if the test does both).. When you are in those middle ranges you might have to compare the freshwater chart to the marine chart and make a guess as to where it is approximately.. but hey, when in doubt, an extra large water change won't hurt

[lilacamy931]

Lol- thanks! The most local store said they could order the dwarves for definate and as to anything brackish like the GSP I would have to pick up as soon as delivered as they have no tanks set up. All the beginner books suggest they say in store for a week, but then I never thought of the fact they get more stressed really and that they would be exposed further, thank you!

Thanks for the advice on the test kits, I think I will start with a freshwater for set up and get a proper salt further down the line (dont mind getting the two, but it did seem more reasonable to get the one to begin with as the kit claims for 800 tests per kit - not sure how true but if many much better! ) Will certainly invest later for the brackish later down the line.

That is good to know on the whole species thing, especially that there is no care difference to be maintained between the two - phew! Next month I will get the parts and get cycling!

[Myaj]

Its been a long time since I read up on the "imitator" species and it might like a little salt (seriously, I can't remember for sure) but to be honest, you almost never will find that one in a local store.

A lot of people like to see the fish after they've been in the store for a week or so, so the "weak ones" die off and the healthier ones are still around... I think if you choose wisely and pick the ones that have the most round bellies and best colors, getting them into a nicely setup, healthy, tank in a quiet environment (no teenagers banging on the glass yelling 'puff! c'mon puff!'), that you'll still have better results than letting them sit stressed out and waiting to see which ones survive the stress.

Keep in mind though, if they are very young they often all look like females, and what the store gets in will likely be juveniles. Yellow on the bellies/tails is the first indication of a young male, IMO, the eye wrinkles, stripes, etc all come later.. when young they all just look like spotted females.

[lilacamy931]

hmmm.. I will most likely be taking a risk with the whole male/female thing, as mentioned before not many stockists in the area. I will look into it more to see on the options that someone can guareentee a male and two females. I will let you know my findings!! Thanks for all the great info Myaj x

[lilacamy931]

Another Q - I know substrate does not tend to matter in this instance very much as buffering capabilities are not needed. I have seen some tanks online where they have used marbles and glass pebbles (and a mixture)..good to use?

[Myaj]

Well, you have to be careful when it comes to anything painted, or certain types of rocks can change your water chemistry. Glass is probably perfectly fine, as long as it isn't painted.

Of course you can't really do much with live plants with something like that, but if that's not in your plans anyways...

[lilacamy931]

lol, thanks myaj to the rescue! It would be just glass and not painted for sure. Thank you!!! xx

[lilgirlkat]

good luck!

[lilacamy931]

Right the dwarves could be here as early as Tuesday. My test kit is coming next two days, and i am off to the local fish store to get my water tested to see how the tank is going. (Dont worry if it aint ready, the store can hold them plus may take up to two weeks to get them!). Just a couple of last minute questions?

1. Food - have frozen bloodworm in ready, will probably pick up live on the day of collection and in a little while will attempt to breed my own snails. Do I need any other food sources to begin with?

2. Bedtimes - during work time I will be out of the house from 8am - 6ish pm. When I get up put the tank light on, what time recommended to turn tank light off in the evenings? Generally 10-12 hours light good?

3. I have been using Seachem Stability to cycle the tank (the last fish store test showed it was progressing and today find out more). I have only been adding just this to the tank as stated on the bottle. Says to use for 7 days (yesterday was the 7th), shall I just keep adding until the puffs and do a water change just before? Will post later results of tank dimensions.

4. Not really a question but they shall be named the Sugar Puff Gang and will get individual names when they get here! (Nicknamed so because they are so sweet and of course puffs )

Any further advice for a new mum?

Thanks! (And sorry - feel nervous and excited)

[Myaj]

When it comes to dwarf puffers, they can be a little picky with food. They LOVE live blackworms, but once you feed those, they may demand them all the time, spoiled little brats . They only problem I can see with the frozen bloodworms is that they actually might be a little too big for young dwarf puffers to eat, depending on how small yours are when you get them. Snails are always good, if they are too big, partially crush them and the puffers will do the rest. The only "prepared" food I've ever seen dwarf puffers eat was the New Life Spectrum small fish formula, so if you can find that locally, maybe try it out.

Lighting times.. it really doesn't matter much to the fish, but plants/algae will care. If you have no live plants, its less of a worry, but if you start to get a ton of algae growing, you'll want to cut back on the light source. Most people do 8-12 hours per day, give or take I suppose.

The Stability I have no idea about.. make sure you know its working by fully understanding the bacterial cycle.. the last thing you want to do is kill your new little puffs by throwing them in an uncycled tank.

Cute name idea!

[lilacamy931]

Thanks Myaj! I really do not know how tiny they will be - am going to get snails in priority.

The store told me that the readings for nitrates were 20, couldnt see ammonia, and that nitrites were PERHAPS 0.5, he couldnt quite tell, I will be getting my test kit in next day or so..so will do my own tests before bringing them home. I am hoping that the store will hold them at least till the weekend (the options are he is ordering Monday and they will either arrive Tuesday where upon they will hold if a free tank available or it may be up to a couple of weeks). So all fingers crossed.

Thanks again Myajx

[lilacamy931]

Well I have sourced my dwarf puffs and my much suffering parents are going to take me out to get them on Saturday, I have begged the store to keep 4 aside for me as can not source locally.

I know 3 is best. But... locally i would pay £7! per puff. This store sells at £3 each and 2 for £5. I was thinking of getting 4 (have 14/15g)... I wont be able to go back again if one dies, could only exchange at a nearer branch that does not sell them. Many thanks for any criticism etc x

[LilGreenPuffer]

If you get four, then make sure it's 1m/3f.

[lilacamy931]

Will do .

Finally got a test kit, i am not at home at the moment, but my partner says the PH is around 8. Will get onto the other three tests tonight, all fingers crossed!

OK....just double checked the dwarfpuffers are meant to be at 6.5 -7.2 PH.

How can I lower PH? Is it going to harm them at 8?