completely new to puffers

[qmccormick13]

Hi all,
I am new to this community as well as to puffer fish. I have no set up right now, but I'm looking for a small freshwater set up, probably with just one puffer. I don't think I want dwarf puffers, preferably something larger and that is noticeably puffed up when he/she decides to do so. Also, I don't think I could go any larger than a 20 gallon tank; it will have to go in my room in my apartment.

Do you guys have any suggestions on a nice set up with one nice sized puffer? And also suggestions on the type of puffer that could live comfortably in a 20 gallon tank would be great. As I said I am completely new to puffers, so I am all ears. I have recently become very interested in them, and watching them feed is amazing.

Thanks guys!

[ReefYeti]

For a 20 gallon, you should go brackish instead of fresh. Only dwarf/pea puffers are true freshwater.
So that being said, get a figure 8 puff. They are big enough to see well, but small enough to live in a 20 gallon and they are easy to find at pet stores. You should really only get 1 for that size tank, and it's likely to kill anything else you put in there. But they are really great fish, and its fun to feed them ghost shrimps and the like.
DO NOT CYCLE YOUR TANK WITH A PUFFER!!!!!

[Flutter]

For a 20 gallon, you should go brackish instead of fresh. Only dwarf/pea puffers are true freshwater.

This is not true.

There are many FW puffers. For that size of tank I'd recommend a red-eye species. Do you know what is available to you? That will play a huge part in what fish you end up getting

[Pufferpunk]

Only dwarf/pea puffers are true freshwater.

HUH???

[RTR]

I don't understand why folks think all puffers are BW to SW. The majority of puffer are SW, but quite a few are BW, and more than enough to fill a tank room are really and truely FW fish. The Dwarf puffers are definitely FW, but they are far from the only FW species. The entire speies group to which they belong are FW fish. And many more from other species are as well.

But Flutter's note in not trivial. Availability of puffers tends to be seasonal, and as many requite species-only housing, not all are common in the trade. Find out what is likely to be available locally. Indepent fish stores may be more likely or better able to get a selection of puffers.

[Arny]

Ask your lfs if they can order you a puffer and which kinds they can get