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	dwarf pufferfish aquarium
GirlieGirl8519 Fish Master Malawi Planter Posts: 1468 Kudos: 1029 Votes: 35 Registered: 25-Mar-2005	I am thinking about getting a few dwarf puffers to put in a 5g tank. I need some info about keeping them. Should I put live plants in the tank? Should it be heavily planted, or does it matter? What type of plants would be good? Any info from experiences with these cuties would help me out alot! *Kristin*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
DoctorJ Big Fish Posts: 344 Kudos: 1159 Votes: 191 Registered: 13-May-2003	This is not personal experience, because I haven't done it, yet, but I've been planning on a 5 gallon dwarf puffer tank myself. I was thinking of only one puffer and I was going to use live plants in order to stabilize the water conditions. I was thinking of some dwarf hygro, java fern, and java moss: all easy, low light plants. As for tankmates, I was thinking of trying an amano shrimp. WHat were you thinking of?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
puffer_archer Enthusiast Posts: 288 Kudos: 250 Votes: 4 Registered: 20-Jul-2004	Shrimp are pretty much the only option for a tank that small as tankmates. Also, the plants already listed look good for that kinda of tank. 1, maybe 2 puffers would work, but no more than that, and you'd have to keep up on water changes and such. Check out http://www.dwarfpuffers.com for a lot of information on them!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
djtj Fish Master Posts: 1764 Kudos: 885 Votes: 49 Registered: 20-Feb-2003	You might be able to get away with 1 or 2 dwarf puffers and 3 bumblebee gobies. - Dj :88)
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
GirlieGirl8519 Fish Master Malawi Planter Posts: 1468 Kudos: 1029 Votes: 35 Registered: 25-Mar-2005	I was told in another forum that I could have 3, but since this is the puffer forum, i'm gonna take the advice and only have 2. I'm not putting any other fish in with them...just some plants. I'm kinda nervous, but excited to get these lil guys. I'm guessing I should get 1m and 1fm, right? Since the males will fight.. Thanks for the plant suggestions..I'm gonna keep those in mind when I go plant shopping! *Kristin*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
Theresa_M Moderator Queen of Zoom Posts: 3649 Kudos: 4280 Votes: 790 Registered: 04-Jan-2004	I kept 4 (2M/2F) in a 6g with 2 otos for a long time (until I did some major tank rearranging :%) ) I didn't know the sexes at the time I bought them. I have lots of java fern in the tank. Some attached itself to the Flourite, more is on a piece of driftwood. Make sure you have a supply of pest snails available, they are necessary in the puffer's diet. Here's a link with some DP info: http://www.rr.iij4u.or.jp/~kohda/en/en-dwarfpuffer.htm edit: in regards to shrimp some puffers will try to eat them, others won't Last edited by Theresa_M at 03-Apr-2005 11:44 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ There is water at the bottom of the ocean
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
djtj Fish Master Posts: 1764 Kudos: 885 Votes: 49 Registered: 20-Feb-2003	For the record, females are less aggressive than males. You will have more luck with females in a small tank. - Dj :88)
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
DoctorJ Big Fish Posts: 344 Kudos: 1159 Votes: 191 Registered: 13-May-2003	That's a lot of fish for a 6 gallon, Theresa! Did it work OK? What kind of filtration did you have?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
Kim Big Fish Posts: 327 Kudos: 436 Registered: 11-Apr-2004	I have 3 females and 1 male. The male gets bullied by 2 of the females (each one does it, not at the same time) He gets less food than all the rest. Kim
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
Theresa_M Moderator Queen of Zoom Posts: 3649 Kudos: 4280 Votes: 790 Registered: 04-Jan-2004	That's a lot of fish for a 6 gallon, Theresa! Did it work OK? What kind of filtration did you have? No problems at all fortunately. The tank was heavily planted with moneywort, java fern, and hornwort. It was an Eclipse 6 with no additional filtration or aeration. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ There is water at the bottom of the ocean
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
DoctorJ Big Fish Posts: 344 Kudos: 1159 Votes: 191 Registered: 13-May-2003	Heavy planting seems to be the secret with these small tanks -- thanks for the info!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
DoctorJ Big Fish Posts: 344 Kudos: 1159 Votes: 191 Registered: 13-May-2003	P.S. GirlieGirl8519, make sure you report back here how it's going with your tank. I want to hear how it works out for you, because I have similar plans!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
GirlieGirl8519 Fish Master Malawi Planter Posts: 1468 Kudos: 1029 Votes: 35 Registered: 25-Mar-2005	Ok..as soon as I make a move, I'll tell you how it goes. I probably won't get any soon because I have to find a LFS that has snails..so far the ones I've been to don't. As soon as I find some and set up the tank, I'm gettin some puffers! *Kristin*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
zachjc_14 Enthusiast Posts: 205 Kudos: 211 Votes: 24 Registered: 20-Apr-2004	I do not know how sensitive puffers are but should you not cycle your tank before adding these, girlie-girl? Just a suggestion? Also what could dwarf puffers consume that would replace snails in their diet? Anything else hard for their teeth? Flake foods? Frozen foods?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22
GirlieGirl8519 Fish Master Malawi Planter Posts: 1468 Kudos: 1029 Votes: 35 Registered: 25-Mar-2005	I am going to cycle it before I add them...I am just doing some research on them before hand. Some DP's will also eat ghost shrimp but I dont know about an alternative..I never got a definate answer on www.dwarfpuffers.com. I know they won't eat flakes...many posters on the above website have said that. They will eat frozen bloodworms...I did learn that. Check out www.dwarfpuffers.com...it has everything you need to know! *Kristin*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:22


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