2 quick DP questions

[fish_keeper2]

well on an impulse buy i bought another DP(i have 2 now). i noticed that this one is yellow with dark greenish black spots that are nearly perfectly round while my older one is light brown with dark brown patches/mis shaped spots. is this normal to see variation in DPs like this or did i happen to get some other type of puffer mislabled as a DP....the new one is a bit smaller than the other. for my other question, i have my older one in a 2.5 gal(i have them in differet tanks right now), if i heavily plant and make lots of little hiding spots in the 2.5 gal will it be possible to have both of then in the 2.5 gal. i understand that different animals have different temperments im just currious as to can it work(they are both juvis right now) or would i need a larger tank to do so.

 

[andywg]

There are a number of stories about keeping two dwarf puffers in a tank that small, unfortunately they all seem to end in the death of one or both puffers.

The rule is 5 gallons per puffer. the 5 gallons is a minimum tank size due to their need for good quality water and their tendancy to be homocidal little buggers.

I would not recommend putting two in a 5 gallon, and TBH I would not recommend keeping them in 2.5 gallons for too much longer either. The minimum for two DPs would be 10 gallons, but some people have tried this and ended up with one killing the other.

Andy

 

[Francis]

Even though their small they still need quite a lot of space, i agree with the 5 gal per puffer perhaps even more.

Francis

 

[fish_keeper2]

thanks for the help. does anyone know y my two DPs have completely different coloring. one is light brown with dark brown spots and the other is yellow with greenish black spots. is it possible that one was mislabled as a DP and is some other type of puffer. i have no idea.

 

[riogal_11]

sounds like the new one may be a green spotted puffer, which in that case is a brackish fish. You need to get at least a 10 gallon to even consider putting them together. 2.5 is small for even one, but I wouldn't even think of putting two in there. just my opinion though, I'm no expert, but have been thinking about getting one or two myself so I've been reading up.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

then again, don't assume that it is a GSP either. DPs are known for the wide color variation between individuals and will change color for any number of reasons. DPs are entirely freshwater and have little to no salt tolerance, so just keep him in freshwater for now.

can you post pictures of each of your puffers? also, take a look at www.pufferlist.com and *link deleted* --they should help you get a better idea about what the different species look like.


--EDIT--

 

[fish_keeper2]

ill try to get some pics....not sure if i can though. anyway i dobt it is a GSP(it is possible it is a juvi that got mixed in with the DPs). if it is a GSP how could it have lived in freshwater and be perfectly healthy?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

most brackish fish spawn in freshwater and progress to areas of increasing salinity as they age. thus a baby GSP (which would be about the size of a DP) would do ok in a freshwater environment for a couple of months but would need to be slowly moved into salty water as it grew up.

 

[fish_keeper2]

i hope i dont have GSP then. ill try to get pics ASAP. the only prob is that i dont have a digital camera so when i get a regular role of film developed at walmart i just have to tell them to put it on a disk which cost a few bucks more.