The Puffer Forum

I have a ten gallon tank. I have an Albino Shark, a Black Tip Silver Shark, a Pleco, a Clown Loach, a Dalmation Molly, and a Freshwater Snail. I would like to get a puffer. Can I put a puffer in this tank ? I was thinking a dwarf puffer or a red tailed red eyed puffer. Will my sharks eat it ? I know puffer's eat snails so I'm not really woriied about him. I have another tank, so if I have to move anyone I can, but who should I move ? Thanks for your help.

Oh no! Your tank will be overstocked as it is, soon enough. The common pleco grows to around 18", so does the silver shark. The silver shark is brackish water schooling fish that will require marine conditions as an adult. The clown loach can grow to a foot. Before you buy any fish you should do research on each species you want to buy. At least you asked before adding a puffer to that mix. If you want puffers, move all the other fish & then you can have a puffer in there. How big is your other tank? You have FW & BW species.

No! Just like pufferpunk said, the fish you have are all way too big to be in a 10 gallon as it is! Even mollies can get up to 4-6" which is too big for a 10 gallon tank.

I would highly suggest either getting a much larger tank (think 55 gallons or larger) or take those fish back to the store, as they are just going to die or end up with major health issues from being kept in a tank that small.

If you use the 10 gallon for the puffer, with no other fish, you could go with a red eye, a South American or maybe a trio of dwarf puffers (one male, two females) but there is no way you could keep any other fish in there with the puffer. Puffers are aggressive and require really clean, uncrowded conditions to survive. They don't have scales, and are very sensitive fish, as is your clown loach (who, if treated right, can get over a foot in length).

Yeah, I agree with both Myaj and PP on this. Go to http://www.thepufferlist.com to do some research on the puffers before you think of getting one, that is if you have a tank to put one in. Make sure to read each deatail on the puffer you are looking at. To see if you are capable of keeping such a fish.

Puffers are agressive and need tank space and the tank you were hoping to put them in would be too over stocked and cause the puffer a over amount of stress. Plus you were thinking of a Red Eye? That will not end out good anyways cause all your fish would be dead or dying within a few hours or the next day. The Red Eyes cannot tolerate tank mate, maybe the occasional Dwarf Puffer or another Red Eye or so, but this would be in a much larger tank, about a 55 gallon or so at the least to have any tank mates in there.

But before getting any puffer please consider getting a larger tank for your current fish.

<BTW RTR or any others of you that read that stunting thread, it sounds like a case here with the clown loach in stunting conditions, not sure about the other fish>

If you remove all of the existing fish from the tank, not some but all, then you could keep 3 dwarf puffers (which are freshwater, not brackish). Or you could keep one, repeat one, Figure-8 puffer (which is brackish water).

Other than the molly, none of those fish listed is suited to a 10 gallon tank.

Along with doing research on the puffer list site, make sure you ask any questions you have. if you are in doubt just ask. that is waht the forrum is for.
mael

Yes, we don't want to scare you off or yell at you or anything, don't think we are doing that. Most of us started out exactly the same, with a bunch of fish stuffed into a 10 gallon tank and then wondering why they never lived longer than a year or so... Most of the fish you mentioned you have can live over 10 years if taken care of properly, so we're just looking for the best interests of the fish.

You have to be careful with fish stores, for the most part, they are worried about selling you something, not about the fish.

Hi Nicole

Please don't get scared off by these guys, they all mean well but sometimes can come across a little harsh for us new ones. I got 3 green spotted puffers and put them in a 12gallon tank and was promptly told to return them to the LFS which I did with a heavy heart. I did everything I could to make them happy but realised in time that my tank just wasn't going to fit 1 of them let alone 3. I am now looking into getting a couple of dwarf puffers from the LFS and am waiting for them to be ordered in on Thursday. They are freshwater (FW) and not Brackish water (BW) so for the slightly less experienced amoung us they seem to be the better option. I guess they are like getting a puppy, you need to know all about them before you get one but once you do, you'll never look back. They are the cutest fish you've ever seen or the GSP are and I'm sure the Dwarfs are just as cute. I'm very excited about getting mine. Do yourself a favour and set up the other tank (what size is it? Dwarfs need about 15 litres (4-5 gallons) a fish) and make sure your water is completely cycled (ph 7-8, nitrite 0, ammonia 0 and nitrate 20 (guys feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). Get everything right before you get your puffer!

I have a question for everyone...Is my 12 gallon tank okay for 3 DP or should I get 2 or even 1? Could I put any tetras in the tank with them or should it just be the dwarfs?

I've read up a lot about GSP but haven't done much research yet on DP.

Thanks for your help.

Bronwyn wrote: I have a question for everyone...Is my 12 gallon tank okay for 3 DP or should I get 2 or even 1? Could I put any tetras in the tank with them or should it just be the dwarfs?

I've read up a lot about GSP but haven't done much research yet on DP.

Thanks for your help.

12g is okay for 3DPs, and an Otocinclus (Otto catfish) or some shrimp if you want some cleaners.

My first tank paired DPs with Glowlite Tetras and surprisingly there were few problems except nipped fins when the puffs weren't fed for a few days. I quickly learned that Tetras are schooling fish and need to be kept in large groups. In low numbers, they are stressed and confused and behave very erratically. For your 12 I'd say 'no tetras'.

Ask away...we're happy to help and advise. Doesn't matter if you think the question's a bit dumb...
Are you UK or US gallons? With a 10, you're a bit limited pufferwise, and you'll need to be extra religious about your water changes. Can you get a 20 gallon, or are you sticking with the 10?
Pami.

Thanks Bred

Hi Pamela - I got 3 GSP accidently, fell in love with them and then had to return them to the LFS which was very sad but I decided that I shouldn't get a bigger tank because my boyfriend and I are planning to immigrate to NZ and we are saving money for that which should happen sometime in 2007 (I have made arrangements with someone I trust to take over the DP when we leave). I don't mind only getting 1 DP if that would be better?

I have two GSPs in a 25gallon.

Why 2? Because I expected one to die.

You better believe they will be getting a very nice new tank when the time comes.

I think its a-ok to keep a fish in a smaller tank then required for a short period of time, just so you plan on upgrading later

A very short period of time, and best when the fish is a juvenile. Pami.

I wonder what ever happened with all those fish...