Dwarf Puffer Setups

[Puffer_freak]

This appears to be the next in the puffer series!

At the moment, it seems, many people want to set up a tank for dwarf puffers. However, they keep asking the same questions.

PLEASE NOTE: Dwarf Puffers are freshwater. (Carinotetraodon travancoricus)
What size tank?
The general rule that is used on these forums, at least, 5 gallons per puffer. You will see it vary, but that is about right, and ONLY FOR DWARF PUFFERS you could not put another type of puffer into something that size.

How big do they get?
They get to around 1". Yes, this may seem tiny in comparison to the tank, but trust me, puffers are messy eaters.

Male and Female?
If you plan on getting more than one (still not recommended) get a male and female. This still may not work, and they will most certainly not breed, but it keeps aggresssion levels down. REMEMBER: for two DPs you will need a 10 gallon tank. There is ways to tell the difference, which is actually uncommon in the puffer world. On a male, there will be wrinkles behind the eyes and a line on it's stomach. on a female, there quite simply, won't.

Tank Decoration?
They prefer a sand substate of around 1"-1 1/2". Also, they like a heavily planted tank with bog wood or rocks. I think although I have never kept them myself, that they like bright lighting, although please don't hold me to this as I'm not 100% sure.

Cleanup Crew?
Many people say, and I agree, that the best crew is yourself and your gravel vacuum (although in this case, it will be used on sand). Although, it has been reported to work with otos (otinculus -sp? ) and bristlenose catfish. Chances are however, that they will lose an eye or in the otos case, even get killed. Also, please not that plecs (the bristle nosed catfish) are poop machines, so also messy. By request of Grey Legion, I have, as of now, added shrimps to the clean up crew. Although, they will most likely just get eaten.

Feeding?
Bloodworms, any meaty foods really, they love snails. All snails found in tropical freshwater will do, with the exception of the malaysian trumpet snail. This snail has a shell that's too hard for the puffers, and might break their teeth. I will say go and ask other members for a precise list on this one.

Comments?
Please note these are not my own, but someone elses on these forums.

keeping groups of DP's is chancy as they can turn on one another, so if space is limited, females are better with a single male, though lots of planting and breaking up thier line of sight helps. I know you mentioned it

Personality change can happen at anytime, one day they are all swimming happily around the tank, the next morning, dead fish and ripped fins everywhere. I know you mentioned all this, just a bit of explanation I think would add to it.

And on the oto's, I had two in with a single DP for a couple of weeks and one day, one was dead and the other had one eye. They are cute little puppy dogs and thats thier downfall, people sometimes buy them because they are cute only to find that they are cute like a... err Rottweiler

If you got this far, thank you and well done!

Puffer

EDITED: For Erized brilliant post suggestions and the typo.

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

Ok, thanks for that info, But do you think a sponge filter could handle a 5gal with a dwarf puffer in it?

 

[Erised]

Cleanup Crew?
Many people say, and I agree, that the best crew is yourself and your gravel vacuum (although in this case, it will be used on sand). Although, it has been reported to work with otos (otinculus -sp? ) and bristlenose catfish. Chances are however, that they will lose an eye or in the otos case, even get killed.

Feeding?
Bloodworms, any meaty foods really, they love snails. All snails found in tropical freshwater will do, with the exception of the malaysian trumpet snail. This snail has a shell that's too hard for the puffers, and might break their teeth. I will say go and ask other members for a precise list on this one.

Oh, and for typing, first word in tank decoration should be they

Go you for taking the time to write this though! Really couldnt hurt to get a pinned on this one (once all the pinned topics are sorted that is).

 

[Puffer_freak]

Thanks for that! I found most of the typos, but I suppose I must have missed that one!

I'll add in your comments too!

Thanks for the pinned topic compliment!

EDIT: Yes, I think so space.

 

[SirMinion]

Good info, and you're right about the light. Dwarf puffers are diurnal hunters and prefer the light to be bright.

 

[jflowers]

Nice post PF.



Jon

 

[Puffer_freak]

Thanks Jon!

I didn't addd the scientific because it seems to change so often! Will add it now!

 

[Grey Legion]

If you like you can add shrimp to the clean-up crew section, some people have had great luck with shrimp in there DP tank others have not but a few ghost shrimp is a good and cheap way to tell if they get along or not..I actually have 15 ghost shrimp in my puffer tank and all are doing well they really keep the puffers busy and seem to draw there attention..
and of course clean out those half empty snail shells...

 

[Puffer_freak]

IME ,although I do not keep these puffers, the shrimp will just get eaten, I will add it in though!

 

[Grey Legion]

Like I have stated, from what I have read some have had luck and some have not. Right now I seem to be lucky but that can change in a heartbeat, but you and I both know the question "can I have shrimp with my DP" will and has been asked a 1000 times, better to have it and be warned about the possible risk of losing a expensive shrimp..

just my 2 cents

 

[jflowers]

I put live river shrimp in with all my puffers. They last the longest with the F8 for some reason (had one large one last two weeks with him). The ones with the smaller puffers (SAP's, DP's and Red Eyes) are gone in minutes, seconds in my GSP tank.

While the DP is smaller than the average shrimp, they take them bit by bit till the shrimp is dead/immobile, then feast on it, thats only my observasion though, as you and Grey legion have pointed out, puffers have different personalities.

Jon

 

[OohFeeshy]

Right, I went to the lfs while I was waiting to take the rabbit into the vet. Anyways, I saw what I think was a DP (not 100% sure, puffer shaped anyway and small). The poor thing was covered in whitespot and looked like it had finrot. So how long could I keep it in a 3 gallon (if its still there)? I know they are messy, I can do a water change every other day if nessecary. You just don't often see these things around here.

 

[Puffer_freak]

You could keep it in there for a bit. Be careful with meds, puffers can be quite sensitive.

I would upgrade to a 5 gal asap though!

I say go for it, if he's still there!

EDIT: make sure he's a DP first!

 

[OohFeeshy]

Yeah, I'll definately ask. *hopefully* If I can shuffle my tanks around again I can fit in a 5g. As for the bright lighting, if I can only stay with the 3g for now, will a table lamp thing do for a while?

 

[Puffer_freak]

Yeh, probably, as you'd just be getting him back to health for now, lower lighting might be better and keep him calmer!