The Puffer Forum

I have a 30 g freshwater tank and have been thinking of getting some dwarf puffers. I read a couple places that they need 3g a piece. Also read up on em here, n u guys say 5. I'm a little confused. I was planning on 1 but would like a couple or so... How many can be happy in there? I had a really hard time trying to find anything I could put with my porc . So can I have multiple puffs in my 30?

You can safely do 4. Try to get more females than males if you can. The males tend to be moody and fight a lot.

I keep 4 in a 29g with 6 black kuhlis. Have for 2 years or so. If the kuhlis weren't in there I might/would add another DP.


Just to be sure, the 30g would be a dedicated DP tank, right?

Yes just the puffs. Tho there is still a bunch of baby snails in the tank. Should I take them out? Will they eat them all right away? My porcupine puffer would definitely eat till there gone. Don't kno if these little guys will stop when full.

I would probably have 4 DPs or so in a tank that size. Make sure the tank is heavily landscaped with lots of broken sightlines and plenty of places to explore. I kept 4 DPs in a 29 gallon tank happily for a few years, once I hit the right M-F ratio.

4 dps would more than fill that tank with personality, be sure to have no more than 1 male though. Leave the snails in there, great start out food to help settle the dps

Thanks! Pickin up some little puffs on Tuesday! Very excited to have more puffers in my life. Guess they are addicting.

One of my favourites, so much personality for such a small fish. Remember no more than 1 male.

I have 2m/2f. One male is huge and the other male is as small as the other two females. I think this keeps keeps things in check...The little guy doesn't challenge and the big guy doesn't see him as a threat. I'm probably/sure lucky.

JRC3 wrote:I have 2m/2f. One male is huge and the other male is as small as the other two females. I think this keeps keeps things in check...The little guy doesn't challenge and the big guy doesn't see him as a threat. I'm probably/sure lucky.

Just say it its fine, your puffers are swingers we get it, its okay.

defool89 wrote:

JRC3 wrote:I have 2m/2f. One male is huge and the other male is as small as the other two females. I think this keeps keeps things in check...The little guy doesn't challenge and the big guy doesn't see him as a threat. I'm probably/sure lucky.

Just say it its fine, your puffers are swingers we get it, its okay.

Or...

I had 2 male dps in a tank together for a long time, they would also share with anything else I cared to house with them. It's not recommended though its a 1 in a million thing. Stick to only 1 male and life is easier

bertie 83 wrote:I had 2 male dps in a tank together for a long time, they would also share with anything else I cared to house with them. It's not recommended though its a 1 in a million thing. Stick to only 1 male and life is easier

I've been keeping a secret. I also have a lone male gold dust moly in there for algae...I figured I would monitor and see what happened. Zero problems. He was a Juvi like 4-5 months ago.


I'm not recommending anything, but that's 4 DPs, 6 black kuhlis, 3 nerite snails, and the molly. My ghost shrimp have also died in that tank...Of old age. I found my last oldest one in the hood/light. Poor guy. 1.5 year+.

If the shrimp are big enough some dps will leave them, others will hunt the biggest things

You don't think they will over eat the snails. There is ALOT of baby snails in my tank. My porcupine would eat til he explodes. Will these guys stop themselves?