dwarf puffer

[kissez_61]

Hi, I have this 5 gallon tank with a heater hoood light and filter and a 7 1/2 gallon that is a bow front tank. i have had bettas in them in the past but i was looking at the Dwarf puffersand i love the look of them and they have some of the tings i looking for but befor i even think of geting one i need to know some basics about them so hopfuly some one could help me here ok well i was planing on geting one or a pair in one of the tanks (the 5 gallon or the 7 gallon) but will they be ok in ther or is it too small for them. and can i have only one and it not only survive but thrive? i undersand they eat blood warms snails ect, there ph is slightly soft and the temp is 76 to 83 deg F. other tan that i dont know much about them. ohh and having 2 males together isnt good. well if you guys have any thing to add or advice id love to hear it. thanks

 

[SirMinion]

It sounds like you've already done your research! Well done!

5g or 7g is too small for two I'm afraid. They'd be fine for a month or so because as babies they like to hang out together.
But when they hit adulthood and want their own space one will become dominant in such a small space and harrass the other, usually to death.

The 'rule of thumb' for dwarfs is one puffer per five gallons.

 

[kissez_61]

would it be fine for one puffer in my 7 1/2 gallon or should i keep them in pairs?

 

[kissez_61]

ps i have 20 gallon with one blue femal groumie 2 platys and a molly but i thnk they would not mix. no?

 

[SirMinion]

ps i have 20 gallon with one blue femal groumie 2 platys and a molly but i thnk they would not mix. no?

You are correct.
You might get away with dwarf puffes with gourami, platties & mollies for a short time, but once they get their confidence then it's bye-bye fins.

If you are lucky enough to get a docile pair of dwarfs you might be able to keep the pair in 7g... but then again you might not. I wouldn't risk it. I hate to see dead puffers.

 

[Puffer_freak]

Yes, well done! You seem to have done your research.

SirMinion is right, you could only really get away with having one dwarf puffer in the 71/2 gallon tank! You might perhaps get away with it if they were both females (♀ - sorry, just discovered how to do that, needed to show off! ) you might get away with it, but I wouldn't count on it!

Anyway. They alsolike:

Sand
They prefer it brightly lit

 

[matt28781]

hi i have kept dwarf for years and i dont think i have ever had 2 in the same tank and they have been ok one has always killed the other unless you get away with keeping 2 females but that isnt cast iron.

good luck

 

[OoHeatheroO]

i have a 10 gallon tank with catfish and guppies and 1 dwf puffer and just as long as i keep him with plenty of snails and a full belly i've had no issues with him goin after the other fish. Had him for about 8 months now with no problems.

Every puffer is different

 

[Joel]

Kissez_61, I feel the same way you do about the beatiful puffer fish, and I want some too, But im not because I dont want to mix any fish thats aggressive in a community tank.

 

[knashash]

I have a 55 gallon tank, densley planted and just got a pair of DPs about a month ago. My tank also has a very large snail population as well...didnt buy them, just sort of showed up. They are the normal pond snails and I guess perfect food for the little guys. I see them go to town on a snail every now and then and its pretty cool. So far thats all ive seen them eat.

Anways...I have them in my tank with:

5 Glass Catfish
4 Brilliant Rasboras
3 Dalmation Mollies
4 Corys
2 German Rams
1 Lelupi (African Cichlid)
1 Masked Julie (African Cichlid)
5 Cardinal Tetras
2 Red Minor Tetras
2 Celebes Rainbow
1 Singapore Flower Shrimp
and a few amano shrimp

And I have very little agression...every one seems to be doing fine together so its definatley possible to have them in a community tank cause im diong it. Granted I have a ton of hiding places with the plants and all and i think keeping their bellies full might be important.

 

[Puffer_freak]

Sorry, but just because you are doing it, doesn't mean that it is "definately possible".

I would not advise anybody to buy them for a community tank, as they just aren't communtiy fish. A few months down the line, and it could be a different story.

Also, I am VERY surprised that they haven't eaten your shrimp yet....watch out....

 

[jflowers]

Every puffer is different

So don't risk it!

Simple. Dwarf puffers are fin nippers at best, fish eaters at worst, which would you prefer to introduce to a peacful community tank?

Jon

 

[SirMinion]

I have a 55 gallon tank, densley planted and just got a pair of DPs about a month ago. ..so its definatley possible to have them in a community tank cause im doIng it.

And there's the reason. You've had them about a month.
Young Dwarf puffers are little darlings, they hang out together and are playful and cute.

When they hit maturity at around six months, they start fighting amongst themselves, defending newly aquired territories and attacking anything that moves.

Tell us how succesful & harmonious your tank is in six month's time.....

This is a rummynose tetra that for about six months lived in a school in our dwarf puffer's tank,
untill one night when the tetra school slept......