The Puffer Forum

I've kept Dwarfs several times now, but recently picked up 4 for a low tech plant tank (after convincing a friend to try some!)

Before, I've never noticed them to claim a patch or anything - they just buzzed around the whole tank. This time however, one has barely left one particular moss-covered branch in the center. He won't let the others near it. I thought this was interesting, as I'd never considered them territorial. Has anyone else observed any similar behaviour?

Tom

Absolutely and killers too! I have a male who won't let any other fish live in his tank, including other DPs.

Adult (sexually mature) male DPs are very territorial. They typically for me guard a moss clump half-way to 3/4 of the way up in the water column with the moss entangled with a stem plant or plats. That is elected as their spawning sidte and guarded fiercely against all comers - excepting interested females who are invited in for spawning and then excluded afterward.