The Puffer Forum

Hi everybody!

I have just stumbled across a smallish tank, and it seems that my dreams may be graspable.
I can at last consider for the first time a species freshwater puffer set up.
However, I want to do it right, hence have come here.
I have some 12 years of experience with other species but no puffers, ranging from koi to corydoras to mollies and so on.
I would be incredibly greatful if anybody had any hints and tips,

Huffpuff

How large is this tank?

The tank holds approximately 50l, but I think I should be able to combat pollutant buildup as I have all the time in the world - being a a student and all.
This is also the reason why I can't get a bigger tank at the moment :/
I knew that I wouldn't be able to get anything like a fahaka or a mbu, but I was wondering if it was possible to get anything beside pigmies.
Of course retail has the best advice - recommending I go for 6 green-spotted straight away...
And that's turning an eye on the fact that they were "freshwater".

As an aside - is it likely that it would be possible to keep snails inside with them, or wouldn't they reproduce fast enough?
Either way, I would keep up a back-up container for extra ones.
Also - which snails would you guys recommend?

Hi again

It is approximately 50l.
I am not sure which ones are suited though even if a species tank.
Especially as retailers are telling me to cram the tank with them.
Call me old-fashioned - but for a start, green-spotted are not fully freshwater!

That's only a little over 10g. Best bet is to keep 2-3 DPs in there:
library/puffers-in-focus/dwarfpuffercare/
library/puffers-in-focus/sexing-carinot ... rf-puffer/

Welcome to the forum. Dwarf puffers would be your best bet.

Thanks Pufferpunk and bertie 83 for your help - its appreciated!
So pigmy puffers would be the way to go - as for the possibility of making a community tank...
Am I right in assuming that it isn't to be trusted to any real extent?
Also - there would be too much bioload, right?
Also - which plants would you guys recommend?

As an aside - it says that I should take female heavy ratio.
However, I would not be able to tell before they reach maturity.
Should I get juveniles or adults, and where should I purchase from in the UK?

Thanks again - all your help is appreciated!

I just recently re-set up a 10 gallon tank and stocked it up with pea puffers. It's said you need at least 5 gallons per puffer, BUT I got 4 of mine from one pet store and one from a different store and all 5 of mine have been fine in a 10 gallon. Also, the rule of puffers is one male to every 2 females. If you have more males then females, the males will end up killing the females. Make sure you have tons of hiding places. Pea puffers are like betas, some will be ok in a community tank, and some won't. You could probably get one puffer and get things like tetras, something that can swim faster then the puffers. Anything with pretty, Long fins won't make it, the puffers will attack it. As for plants, as long as you have the proper light, anything will work. All my plants have lots of big leaves and are planted close together to provide A place to hide. My favourites are the java fern and Amazon sword. I hope this helps, good luck !

Why would you deliberately overcrowd them though, why not just stick with 2-3?

If you just recently started up that pea puffer tank then maybe its a fair bit early to say that it is fine

If you have too many males in a small space they will kill each other, and poss the females or anything. Nothing no matter how fast is safe with dps, they are pure aggression. 5 dps in a 10 g is a recipe for disaster both with bio-load and aggression. They need territories, even more so with age. I have had success mixing dps with other species but would never try it again

+1 to Bertie's comments above, and general agreement with the other warnings. Five DPs in an ~10 gallon tank is absurd. Even with dense planting it is doomed to be a battleground, even if well-established biofilters are in use.

Puffers are not guppies - when crowded they try to eliminate the excess competition, and generally succeed. Small size does not translate to passive fish in this fish family.