The Puffer Forum

Hello everyone. I've been eyeballing the dwarf puffers for a year or so and decided to convert my community tank to a puffer tank.

Yay for fresh water only!

I have a 60 gallon tank with a marineland 350 bio wheel filter (runs with 4 "c" filters installed).

I found homes for my 2 large angel fish, 2 large Bala sharks and multiple tiger barbs.

I still have a Chinese Algea eater who's about 4" long.
4" picture catfish
4 black fin tetras
2 high fin banded shark (that will go in the koi pond in spring (only about 2.5" long right now
2 crawdads (moved to a breeding tank right now.

I'm considering removing all other fish besides having a clean up fish like a few Cory and dedicating it as a DP only tank and possibly breed them as nature occurs.

I have 14 in there now and they seem to have plenty of room in the 60 gallon tank but I want to redecorate. I have fake rocks and plants right now. Would like to add more natural plant life and considering adding Java moss and fern. Any other recommendations?

Possibly driftwood or other more natural looking rock structures.

Last consideration. Everything I've read online says keep in small tanks in small numbers. Bigger tanks in varying amounts. From 1 fish per 2-10 gallons. What is the general consensus here on appropriate number per gallon? Being I have a 60 gallon tank, I would love to safely house 25 or so of these guys.

I think that you should move all of the other fish currently in the tank and just have puffers and bottom feeder(s). Instead of multiple cories, I would suggest a medium-sized pleco like an opal spot or angelicus for cleanup. Lastly, you probably shouldn't put more than 15 or 20 puffers. 25 would work, but you'd be pushing it.

Here's a pic of my tank.

pufferjw wrote:I think that you should move all of the other fish currently in the tank and just have puffers and bottom feeder(s). Instead of multiple cories, I would suggest a medium-sized pleco like an opal spot or angelicus for cleanup. Lastly, you probably shouldn't put more than 15 or 20 puffers. 25 would work, but you'd be pushing it.

I would consider that all the above-mentioned fish could be picked on by the puffers.

Pufferpunk wrote:

pufferjw wrote:I think that you should move all of the other fish currently in the tank and just have puffers and bottom feeder(s). Instead of multiple cories, I would suggest a medium-sized pleco like an opal spot or angelicus for cleanup. Lastly, you probably shouldn't put more than 15 or 20 puffers. 25 would work, but you'd be pushing it.

I would consider that all the above-mentioned fish could be picked on by the puffers.

I guess what my concern is for the puffers. Not the other fish. I'm concerned they could harm the puffers.

The catfish is super fast and spastic but has a large mouth. So I'm scared he could accidentally eat one.

The rest are just kinda lazy fish mostly

I would suggest amano shrimp as a cleanup crew, but be aware that when they molt the puffers might eat them. I would not suggest plecos or corys if you like your fish to have eyeballs. You could add a ton of trumpet snails, they breed quickly,puffers love to eat them and they are good for live plants because they dig in the substrate.
Java fern and moss would work, as well as my favorite anubias. Also look into water sprite - grows very fast,is easy to keep and you can plant it or float it. Provides tons of coverage for your puffers.

Found homes for everything. So have a dwarf tank set up now.

After a lighting upgrade I'll look into live plants.