The Puffer Forum

So...I had this 10 gal tank to house some of my daughter's baby guppies that had since emptied out. And I saw some dwarf puffers and thought, why not back to freshwater? Anyway, they are so cute. They were a bit shy for a week or so, darting away when I approached the tank. I couldn't tell if they were eating or not but they looked good. Now they come up to the glass and stare at me intensely when I stand nearby (feed us feed us), and I am amazed at how they can eat a bloodworm as long as they are. Enormous poop too! So much personality in a tiny package! Love them.

I had some tiny snails in there as this tank once housed them for my GSPs, but I don't see any now.

Their names are Mike and Mary. I bought two and so far they get along, but I wonder what sex they'll turn out to be. How long do they usually take to mature enough for the telltale markings to appear? Any tankmates I can put in to diffuse aggression if it develops?

Untitled by Magdaline Chu, on Flickr
Untitled by Magdaline Chu, on FlickrUntitled by Magdaline Chu, on FlickrUntitled by Magdaline Chu, on Flickr

You can’t put any tank mates besides other dwarf puffers. Males have a black line on their bellies I could tell the gender soon as I got mine and 3 would be the limit for a 10 gallon I hope I helped no more then 1 male in a tank that’s what I’ve been told

Black line isn't the surest way to sex them, only by the wrinkles behind male's eyes.