The Puffer Forum

So I've decided to attempt to house a couple of dwarf puffers in my 10 gallon tank (cycled, mature, stable water parameters, etc) that currently holds a few kuhli loaches (which can be readily rehoused in the event of aggression, cursory research indicates that they might be ignored), and I understand that I need to break up sight lines in order to minimize aggression between the puffers. Given my general lack of imagination, could someone give me examples of good set-ups, preferably without live plants?

In other words, I need people to show off their tanks so that I can leer at them jealously, preferably while explaining where and how the sight lines are broken.

Thanks!

A 10 gallon tank is not big enough for Kuhli loaches and 2 DPs. All fish require some volume of water to support them properly. You cannot house other fish in a water volume too small for their need by add other fish to that same volume unless you are doing 50% daily water partials or setting upa flow-through system. A nominal 10 US gallon tank is sufficient for two DPs period, not two DPs plus other fish. Puffers are messy and nippy fish. I would restrict such a tank to two female DPs only.

HTH

Agreed. I've successfully kept kuhlis with my DPs for several years but they not only need the larger water column but also a larger footprint than a 10g. Kuhlis are schoolers and absolutely prefer to be in numbers. I've seen this from personal experience. I used to keep 3 and would rarely see them. One would come out quite a bit but the other two would barely peek out their heads. I added 3 more and everybody started hanging out and being active. Also be aware of you filter inlet tube strainer. If the holes are too large the kuhlis WILL get into the filter.

As far as sight lines here is a pic back when I kept 2 DPs in a 10g. http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk16 ... CI0142.jpg
And as far as the sight lines go, from my personal experience it doesn't seem to really mater. My two females and one male are always swimming out in the open. My other male, who is huge nearly as big as my thumb, is the only one who really hides. He does do a lot of patrolling in the decor. My guess is it's a natural thing to search for and run off other males in his territory. But he does accept the male who is also in the tank. Sorta funny.

I keep these hanging on the back glass and the DPs love to hang out and sleep in it. http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... lInUS%2FNo I have these plants in all my tanks to hide filters and stuff.

I currently have 6 kulis in with my 4 DPs in a 29g and it is a good fit. Any chance you could upgrade to a 29g? They are very common on craigslist.

Kulis didn't last with my DPs.

I forgot I had these pics hosted:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk16 ... 8050e5.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk16 ... 8b7c89.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk16 ... 7e7bd9.jpg

Like i said it's a 29g. I give the kuhlis plenty of caves to choose from. They also love to swim around the rocks, drift wood, and fake leaves I have on the sand substrate.

Here is an old picture of my brown puffers 29g

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/713/ftsc.jpg/

lots of plants everywhere, in the substrate, floating, tucked in behind the filter intake.

Edit 04/28/13

Here is how it looks currently sorry that the picture is fuzzy

https://imageshack.us/scaled/large/713/ ... shot29.jpg


I can add in other angles and use a better camera if anyone wants them.