The Puffer Forum

Hi all,

We have a 20 G planted tank with 3 dwarf puffers in it and we have been thinking about adding a tank mate or mates... ATM the puffers have 3 Amano shrimp for company, but we were wondering if we could add a different, fishy tank mate, or if we should let our trio of DPs keep the tank to themselves.

Can anyone recommend a fish that might do well with our DPs? I have seen folks on the Toronto area aquarium group talking about DPs and bumblebee gobies, but I have not read about anyone on the Puffer Forum trying that combination. As always we defer to what folks here recommend, since we want what is best for our puffers.

I have a dwarf puffer in a 10 gallon long with 6 neon tetras, and so far it's fine. However, any fish that is fast-moving and peaceful should be fine. Bumblebee gobies wouldn't work with DPs, as the gobies are brackish and the DPs are freshwater.

Also, be careful with the amano shrimp, as my DP loves to eat live shrimp.

This is short term and do not take this as gospel. My dps have been cohabitating with a peppermint plec, amanos, and zebra Danios.

pufferjw wrote:Bumblebee gobies wouldn't work with DPs, as the gobies are brackish and the DPs are freshwater.

Agreed! Thanks for posting this! So bad bad info out there! Ugh. Always do your research, no matter how knowledgeable a LFS seems to be.

Use the search function on this forum, you'll find info about tank mates for DPs. It is actually really useful.

Thank you all for your replies

Ok, so no goby - can't believe the folks in the GTA forum have not pointed out the incompatibility of DPs and gobies to the members talking about that pairing. Once my account is 'approved' (they are SO slow to do that, and I cannot post yet) I will put something into the thread to let them know about the FW/BW needs.

Thank you TheStig - searching the forum was an excellent suggestion! It seems that little fish like neon tetras or endlers might do well with our puffer trio.

TBH we are not even sure the tank needs more fish - it just seems a little quiet and empty at 20 G with our 3 DPs in there.

Endlers are too delicate IMO, as are neons. Maybe faster-moving species like zebra danios. Many have had good luck with otocinclus.

Mine happily resides with a rubber lip pleco, no issues after 1 1/2 years or so.

To anyone returning to this thread years later; research into bumblee gobies has come on leaps and bounds, and we now know that there are multiple subspecies, most of which are happy in both fresh and brackish water when acclimatised correctly. DPs and BGs can happily share very similar parameters, and have similar enough temperaments to get along well with each other.
I currently have a tank with both, the gobies tend to rest in areas, but have definitely picked up behaviour from the DPs and swim up and down the glass when they see food may be coming.
I highly recommend the Practical Fishkeeping December 2023 article, and as always research the specific species and sub species you are considering first.
In terms of shrimp - don't forget hiding places; if the puffers don't get them, the stress will. I've had much better results, and healthier shrimp population when there's been places they can hide which the puffers don't get to, otherwise they will always drop their eggs and be reluctant to moult.

Dwarf puffers are best treated as a species-only fish, especially in a 20-gallon with three already established. They’re curious and territorial, and even “peaceful” tank mates often end up stressed, fin-nipped, or bullied over time. Shrimp usually don’t last long either once the puffers decide they’re food. Some people report short-term success with fast fish like bumblebee gobies, but it’s very hit-or-miss. If your trio is active and healthy, the safest option is to let them keep the tank to themselves and focus on enrichment and plants.

Dwarf puffers are adorable, but tank mates are always tricky. They’re curious and can be nippy, especially with slow or long-finned fish. Many keepers find they do best in a species-only tank, though fast, small fish or hardy shrimp sometimes work in heavily planted setups. A Sanford-style approach—observing behavior closely and being ready to separate fish if needed—really helps here. Every puffer has its own personality, so what works in one tank may fail in another.