The Puffer Forum

Hi. Every time I try to enter the Pufferpedia it gives me a HTTP 404 Not Found page. I've tried from several different links but none work so I apologise if the information I'm looking for is there but I can't get to it.

When at my local Maidenhead Aquatics I saw they had a new batch of gorgeous little Pygmy puffers. I am considering buying a small aquarium for 3 or 4 of these wonderful fish and wanted to know...

Will a 40l tank be big enough?

Will any other freshwater critters (fish or other) be safe in with them of are they best alone? I was wondering if a couple of larger shrimp would be too big for them to bother with?

I'm assuming I'll have to do a fishless cycle to add them to a 'ready' aquarium. I have a 180l community aquarium so I can use a filter squeeze from that to get things going.

Can anyone tell me about their needs, habits, personalities etc. I'd love to know more about them from people who keep them rather than just from a book or web page on MA website.

Many thanks x

in a 40l(which google tells me is about 10g) you could have 2. Either 1 female 1 male or 2 females would be best.

With 2 dwarfs in a 10g tank you would be fully stocked and unable to have anything else.

As like all puffers they need hardshelled foods ie snails, clams on the halfshell, shell on shrimp, etc. Also you will want to very heavily plant the tank with lots of places to hide and a cave or two for them to chill out in

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, I did think 4 was a stretch! Thanks for the info. My current aquarium is planted so I will definitely add plenty to this one. Getting very excited!

The Pufferpedia will be down until we get onto our new server. Many of our Library articles have been posted in that forum. Be sure you know how to sex that puffer species. There is an article on that & one on their care.

i have personally kept 2 in a ten gallon tank before and it was great. still one of my favorite tanks to this day and i have and have had lots. my puffers would bicker from time to time and chase occasionally but with lots of plants and things they can get away easy enough and no one ever got so much as a mark from it. i added a small loach at one point (about 3x the size of the puffer maybe more) but still small, and my puffers relentlessly fin nipped. i thought it was quite gutsy! but yes 2. and they are a great introduction to keeping puffers, not quite the bioload of an MBU lol.

Thanks for the info on the articles and pufferpedia, Pufferpunk.

Thanks Dr, appreciate the response. I'm really looking forward to having them.

I was wondering if a couple of larger shrimp would be too big for them to bother with?

My dwarf puffs wouldn't have been able to eat a large shrimp, but I bet they would have harrassed it mercilessly -- and possibly nibbled off eyes and assorted other bits 'n' pieces.

Hmmm...yes I'm starting to get a picture of these feisty little darlings

DPs are the least demanding puffers on the crunch factor. I only use about 50% snails in their diet.