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Babel, don't you think that was a bit harsh of a reply? I mean, repeating schooling 3 times? Seems a bit over the top.

As per ottos, I was not aware that they were schooling and in my experience keeping them, have never noticed schooling type behavior, but I trust your word and wisdom on that.

Now, for dwarf puffers, yes, they do tend to be aggressive toward other fish, with one major exception, ottos. For some reason they tend to ignore ottos, and because of that, they are one of the few tankmates that are recommended to go along with DPs.

Recommended Gallons per DP is 3, so yes, the 2.5 is slightly on the small size, which is why I recommended going with a five if possible. I'm not sure how a DP would react to 100% water changes, I've never tried it myself. Smallest I have kept them in is a 5 and usually what I recommend.

DPs can be very aggressive towards each other, which is why I wouldn't suggest 3 in a 5g. They need their space.

I don't think ottos are technically schoolers but I do believe they like the company of their own kind. JMHO

I've kept dwarf puffers for over a year now. They've lived successfully with ottos, mollies, tiger barbs, and bumblebee gobies (not at the same time).

As with other fish a lot depends on the individual fish's personality. Also, some lfs keep them in species-only tank, others in more community-type tanks.

Depending on your filtration and how often you do water changes I'd go as high as three in a 5g; again JMO.

As stated previously, ghost shrimp may become meals. And don't forget to make sure you have a source of snails for them

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

"As per ottos, I was not aware that they were schooling and in my experience keeping them, have never noticed schooling type behavior..."

Really? That's because they aren't. In the wild, they occupy their own areas, and are found individually in the leaf litter--they form large colonies in the substrate, but rarely interact with one another, save spring spawning. In fact, certain indivduals have described them as nomadic fish, lone individuals darting through root tangles without a true territory. That debate has yet to be concluded. The Mato Grosso is also a fairly slow moving river near the tribs in which otos are found, thus they actually DISLIKE current, as I've found many a time whilst introducing them to my Rio Xingu biotope (not to mention waters can reach a scorching 86 F).

I have 8 ottos in a 55 gallon with a dwarf puffer, the puffer has never bothered the ottos. My ottos do not really school together, they do their own thing. Ottos tend to die off at introduction to a tank, but in my experience are relatively hardy after that.

Uhh, Babel, I SAID otos wouldn't be that happy in a 2.5g... I wasn't implying they should be kept with puffers. Don't be a fish nazi, please.

Otherwise: I'm pretty sure those shrimp will be eaten. You can give it a try, but you may find yourself replacing them often when they "mysteriously" disappear

Ghost shrimp might work or will work at least until the puffer realizes that they taste good. They're pretty inexpensive, so it might be worth a try. If the puffer eats them, you're not going to be out much money at all. Some people have had success with Amano shrimp as well, but they're a little more expensive if the puffer decides to eat them. Ottos and dwarf puffers get along well, but I wouldn't keep ottos in anything that small, even in a 5 gallon tank.

I think 2 DPs (either 2 females or 1m & 1f).
Go to http://www.dwarfpuffers.com

I'm getting a five gallon now
what about in ther?


Stephane

I wasn't aware that ottos were schooling either, but puffers are really where my expertise lie. I do think 1 DP, without the otto, could be ok in a 2 1/g, granted the tank was cycled 1st & 50% weekly (not 100%) were done.

Would it be possible to keep a dwarf puffer with an Otto in a 2.5 gallon tank.
It would be heavily planted, heated, aquaclear mini filter and flourescent light.



Thanking you in advance



Stephane

So can I keep 1 dwarf puffer and a few ghost shrimp in there?




Stephane

Dwarf puffers make a *lot* of waste, since they're carnivores. If you kept one in a 2.5g, you'd really need 100% water changes.

Condeming an otto to live in someone elses waste is just cruel. You wouldn't force a puppy or a kitten to live in the bottom of a elephant cage just because you could. Don't do the same thing for an otto.

There is no need to have an otto in that sized tank. Espcially one that you're going to need to do 100% daily water changes on. Ottos need a long acclimation time (8 hours is good) how you'll manage that with daily water changes almost defies reason.

^_^ [hr width='40%']"There’s an emptiness inside her. And she’d do anything to fill it in.
And though it’s red blood bleeding from her now. It's more like cold blue ice in her heart.
She feels like kicking out all the windows. And setting fire to this life."

And LFS's seem to think you can cram a 2 foot fish in a bowl.

[link=Read this]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Bottom%20Feeder%20Frenzy/48796.html" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] before putting an otto in something that inadequate .

^_^

[hr width='40%']"There’s an emptiness inside her. And she’d do anything to fill it in.
And though it’s red blood bleeding from her now. It's more like cold blue ice in her heart.
She feels like kicking out all the windows. And setting fire to this life."

Well, the dwarf puffer forum seemed to suggest otos as a dwarf puffer tank mate. But... I also think otos are MUCH better off in a larger tank with some buddies.

Dwarf puffers make a *lot* of waste, since they're carnivores. If you kept one in a 2.5g, you'd really need 100% water changes.

Last edited by smantzer at 03-Mar-2005 18:56

Ottos will NOT go in a 2.5. In no particular order:
1). They are schooling
2). Even with their small size they produce a large ammout of waste
3). They enjoy cooler temperatures
4). They are schooling
5). They enjoy faster moving water
6). The need to be kept in a school
7). They are not the most hardy of fish.

Dwarf puffers are a species only fish to the best of my knowledge...they tend to harrass others fish in the tank. Minimum I'd suggest for them is a 10 gallon tank.

There is not much you can keep in a 2.5. A male betta, OR a snail, OR a shrimp.

^_^ [hr width='40%']"There’s an emptiness inside her. And she’d do anything to fill it in.
And though it’s red blood bleeding from her now. It's more like cold blue ice in her heart.
She feels like kicking out all the windows. And setting fire to this life."

So no more comments?






Stephane

Agreed. Keep up with 50% weekly water changes.

I think that would probably be ok. A five would be better, but if it's heavily planted, it should keep the puffer busy.