Dwarf Puffers

[Carolinesugar]

Hi all,

I know that this is a much debated subject... but I'm looking for a large scale opinion.

I currently keep 4 dwarf puffers, who have up until today, lived in a 25 litre aqua 40 tank.

I have this weekend brought them a new Aquael 45 Bowl, which holds 45 litres of water.

Due to this being a fairly big increase in size, I thought they would love the bigger space.

Since putting them into their new home, they have grouped together, and appear to be "shoaling" like barbs or danios do.

I'd like to try and find out what your opinions are on the size of their homes, should they be kept with a minimum amount of litres per puffer?

Also, would they be happier, with a few additions to their new home (more puffers - not any other fish - species only tank)? As they may not feel so lost in all that space?

 

[bunjiweb]

The Aqua40 is a 25L tank, not 10L.

Your 4 puffers, IMHO will be fine in a 45L tank, but Im sure someone will come along and tell you otherwise. I wouldnt however add anything else to the tank, DPs are generally best in a species only tank although if you REALLY wanted you could possibly keep them with a type of freshwater goby such as the Rhinogobius Wui.

The main thing is that they recieve a weekly gravel vac / water change, and that they remain well fed with cockle, mussel or snails.

Ben

 

[Rocker]

And here I am lol. 45l is just less than 10g. Take into acount the substrate and decor and you are looking at even less than that. The majority of people state that a DP requires around 3g, many say 5g. So keeping 4 in ata nk of less than 10g is going to be classed as grossley overstocked.Not only that but you will issues with fighting and bullying.I recommend reading this site that is dedicated to the DP ans see what that has to say on stocking.

Dwarfpuffers

 

[Carolinesugar]

Hi,

Yes, I understand that it is not usually advised, but these little fellows have been a group without fighting for along time now - so I am happy to keep them together. I'm also prepared for if they do start fighting, as I will move them across into a spare tank that I have running as a hospital/emergency tank.

 

[Rocker]

They would be happier in a bigger tank.

 

[Fella]

Since putting them into their new home, they have grouped together, and appear to be "shoaling" like barbs or danios do.

That occurs with mine whenever under stress, or if the tank has been recently aquascaped.

I'd be keener to give them more space. Dwarf puffers are messy fish. A messy fish in a small space is a much more valitle environment than if they were in a tank a bit bigger.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[ILM]

Perhaps all your dwarfpuffers are females so they get along great or they could just be very young still but once they mature and their hormones take over, the males will start sparring for dominance (the dominant male will sometimes kill off any he thinks as rivals even if they were just hanging around minding their own business) and chasing the females around. Females can, but not always, be quite aggressive too. A bigger tank is better, of course, but as long as you are keep the tank clean at all times (doing at minimum weekly cleanings and water changes), there are lots and lots of plants and no one is showing signs of aggression, they should be all right. As soon as any of them start chasing, nipping, being nasty to another though, you'll need to remove him/her immediately (and I mean immediately--they have been known to kill each other or maim each other so badly they die from their wounds) so you'll always need a spare tank handy and ready to go (cycled and all). I had 4 young dps in a 10 gal until they matured and one dominant male made life hell for everyone else including the only female (she didn't like him but he wanted her so it got to look very much like sexual harrassment in there). Even after I removed 2 fish, the 2 remaining males were hostile even though they had a whole 10 gal., heavily planted tank all to themselves--so they got a divider between them. Oh, and any time you change their familiar environment (move stuff around, change the scenery), they will school for protection--they're small fish so new changes could signify danger to them (like, a huge hungry monster could be lurking behind that new log) so there's safety in numbers until they've figured out they are safe, then they'll go back to their old ways.

 

[Rocker]

Bigger tank - less territory issues
less territory issues - less fighting
less fighting - happier fish
happier fish - longer lived and healthier.
lesson - get a bigger tank!