The Puffer Forum

I jut got a new 55 gal. tank and was trying to find the right puffer for me. I like the personality of the DP, but would my tank be too big for them? I'm thinking a 50% water change per week would be a bit much for this size tank.

My main questions are...

If I do DP's, how many can I put in?

What amount of water change per week would be sufficient?

Is there a different puffer you would suggest for this tank and water change?

Should I just put a divider in the tank and have the DP's on one side and other FW fish on the other?

Finally, with the DP's would a Marineland Emperor 400, Whisper 100 airpump, and a Penguin 1140 power head be too much? (The DP's won't get sucked in will they?)

Thanks guys! You are so helpful.

Welcome JesseyK


If you go by the rule of 3-5 gallons per DP, you could have 10 in there no problem.

Do you just want freshwater or are you interested in brackish and marine as well?

Hilly wrote:Welcome JesseyK


If you go by the rule of 3-5 gallons per DP, you could have 10 in there no problem.

Do you just want freshwater or are you interested in brackish and marine as well?

Thanks! I just want FW, I don't trust myself with brackish and especially SW. If I put 10 in my tank (I probably wouldn't put that many), do I need to do a 50% water change?

Well there are plenty other FW puffers that would go in that tank, check out the PufferPedia for ideas and post any questions you have.

I do 50% weekly changes on my tanks, you may get away with less but its a good place to start and see how it goes.

Hmmm, what about a SAP. Do they get along with anyone?
How many could I put in a 55gal and is my setup good for them?

Last one - a Fangs puffer? It says no tankmates, so 55 gal may be too big for them. What do you think?

SAP's, as any puffer, can be quite the individuals. Some get along with tankmates fine, others will kill them. They are considered one of the more easy going puffers though. I've kept mine with rainbowfish, tetras, shell dwellers.. but mine was very timid and ran away from the other fish. Other people have had them turn on their fish. Its always a risk. If you do try tankmates, avoid anything like corydoras that will move slow and not realize they should avoid the puffer.

They can be a little harder to find, and usually require some dental work, but they are very cool puffers IMO. I would say 3-4 would be good in a 55 gallon tank, they like lots of current so I don't think you'd have too much at all. With any fish, make sure you put a prefilter on the power head, its never pretty when they get sucked in the intake and killed or injured.

A 55 gal DP tank would be a magnificent site! Eventually I will likely move my 6 DP's from their 30 gal long into my 55 gal. 10 would be a great number, though.

I hope you get 10 DP's because I want to see it....

If you decide to go that route, make sure you get mostly females. I have 2 males and 4 females and have had no problems at all. With 10 I'd try to go for 3 males and 7 females.