The Puffer Forum

I was under the assumption that my tank was a 15 gallon, but I actually measured it and it turns out it is only a ten So I have decided to forgo the F8 puffer and get 2 dwarf puffers instead. I did some reading on dwarfs and tank size and this seems appropriate. Agree/disagree?

Also, dwarfs being freshwater means i won't have to gradually acclimatize my tank to brackish.

In everyone's experience here, do dwarfs eat live shrimp or are they too big for them? I wouldn't mind having a shrimp in the tank as well if they tend to leave them alone, but if they eat them, then I can feed them one once in a while. Assuming they leave a shrimp alone, how much bioload would it add? Too much? I'm not hell bent on the idea, just curious

Are dwarfs able to take out ramshorn snails as well, or just pond snails?

2 maybe 3 DP for 10 gal

DP's are freshwater which means no sea salt adding

I feed my DP's with bloodworms + some snails

You could try some cherry shrimp. Put them in first and make sure that the tank is very heavily decorated. It might work and it might not.

My DP's live with ghost shrimp, but if they get hungry/bored/close enough to bite, they will not hesitate! I think that--given proper tank maintenance and frequent water changes--a healthy, small group of ghost shrimp would help to clean up anything the puffers pass by--though I toss mine some flakes/sinking algae when the tank is really clean, so they don't starve. If they have enough hiding places and plants to camouflage, they (or similar shrimpies) could live with your prospective DP's... but you never know who would love a bite of shrimp face! I wouldn't spend a lot of money on them... I bought a dozen for my DP's a month and a half or so ago, and there are only six left... I've been vacuuming heavily every other day/stirring sand since I'm treating for ich, and I've only found one body! So... not terribly long-term tank mates/ snacks.

And they'll feed your DP's for you if you have to be away for a weekend sometime!

My DPs do totally fin with ghost shrimp. I would only keep 2 DPs in a 10g with a 3 or 4 GS.

Also, a few days ago I decided to throw an adult ramshorn snail in my DP tank to see what would happen hoping it would survive so I could add more to clean algae. About 5 days later it was dead and it's flesh was missing as far into the shell as they could reach...I fed the rest to my F8.

JRC3 wrote:My DPs do totally fin with ghost shrimp. I would only keep 2 DPs in a 10g with a 3 or 4 GS.

Also, a few days ago I decided to throw an adult ramshorn snail in my DP tank to see what would happen hoping it would survive so I could add more to clean algae. About 5 days later it was dead and it's flesh was missing as far into the shell as they could reach...I fed the rest to my F8.

Mine picked at the Ghost Shrimp and killed them. As far as Red Cherries go I'd expect the same. Plus they'd certainly eat the Shrimplettes. I also put an adult Pond Snail in there. It laid one batch of eggs and then they killed it too. Same situation as above.