The Puffer Forum

So at the moment we are cycling a 40 gallon tall freshwater. We would like to put 4-8 dwarf puffers and a few other tankmates. I know there aren't many options for tankmates, but we were thinking a bushynose or clown pleco, and maybe some hatchetfish. would they be alright with the dwarf puffers? any other suggestions? will post a pic of tank setup if it helps.

the plecos will be fine for a while but will outgrow that tank.

I can't speak for the other fish.


Try, if you can, to get a species only tank.

thanks. so are there any algae eating plecos or catfish that would do well with puffers and not outgrow the tank? Also our tank has now been cycling for almost 3 days, and the water is very cloudy. It doesnt seem to be getting better. We have added Nutrafin cycle (as per directions on bottle), and nutrafin tap water conditioner.
Ph - 7.2-7.4
ammonia like 0ppm
testing nitrite, chlorine and water hardness tomorrow.
any other suggestions, this is only our second aquarium, last was a 10gallon with guppies and apple snails.

You'd be best with keeping otocinclus, over plecos in there.

Cycle is crap--throw it away.
viewtopic.php?f=67&t=28467

Welcome to the Forum

"Pleco" is or has has become a general term for South American sucker-mouth catfish. It is a very large family of fish which does include the Otocinclus group (multiple species). Only the smallest and most common of those small species are suited to mix with dps. They are still not a certain and safe mix and should only be added to established tanks with fairly dense live plants which are also well established.

HTH