Dwarf Puffers

[paulypaul182]

Ive decided on Dwarf Puffers for the tank. My LFS havent any in stock but are getting a delivery some time today. Unfortunatly, the person who made the order isnt in today so they dont know if they are expecting Dwarf Puffers. If they have only just arrived, is it wise to purchase them? Surely they'll be all stressed out. Im also thinking about getting some corys and shrimp to go in there with them. Ive read on many sites that they can all live together with no hassles. Is this correct?
Finally, feeding them would cost an arm and a leg if i were to buy snails each time i wanted to feed them. Im going to set up a small tub to breed some snails so any advice on this would really help. What kind of snails should I breed? Ive heard that some snail are very difficult to breed.
Hopefully Ill have some Puffers by the end of the week. I have two common plec in the tank at the moment. Until then, Ill keep the plecos where they are to keep my filter running and will give them to the LFS when the time comes. They have said they will deliver the Puffers for free in exchange for the plecs.

 

[shelaghfishface]

if they have just arrived, they probably wont sell them to you for at least 24 hours anyway

 

[iSnail]

I didn't have much luck keeping mine with corys (dwarf) when I first got them

Ramshorn/pond/tadpole/pouch snails are all suitable for DPs. All these are very easy to breed too. Ideally, a small filtered tank is easier but if you have no options then a tub full of plant clippings like elodea densa on the window sill will do. Just make sure you change water every few days. They will breed crazy when the water is clean and being well fed.

Also, when you buy your DPs, try to pick out the plump happy looking ones yourself. I often read that skinny weak ones tend to die within first few days.

 

[Bebobb]

1. Live and Frozen foods should be their Staple diet Snails are treats
2. Seem to go after any kind of snails. Avoid MTS they are too hard to crush. Ramshorns are poifect.
3. Shrimp and Pygmy Cories with DP's are a big no no. Sometimes the Dp's like the shrimp and sometimes they don't.
4. I'd wait 2-3 days

Any questions, I'm the master

 

[Loony Fish]

i would try to get them as soon as posible, but only if they are still in the shipping bag, if not, i'd wait about a month.

 

[jennybugs]

Buy yourself some Wormer Plus (via Plymouth Discus online) while you're waiting to get them. It will be a good idea to dose your new puffs up with this IP med to make sure they're not carrying worms and internal parasites that could quite possibly kill them. Once it's done they should be good to go. Just don't add it to a tank with snails in as it kills snails.

I have otocinlus and a few amano shrimp in with my DPs. I got the otos acclimatised first then added the DPs once the otos had settled in.

What's the filtration in your tank? Don't forget to plant it up heavily

 

[paulypaul182]

Thanks for all your replies.

Do they suffer from internal parasites then?
Ill ask my LFS if they have any pest snails in their tanks and see if they give them me. I could ask for a continous supply as I am giving them two beauty plecs because I dont want them.
I think i meant ottos instead of corys. Shame really cause I love Corys. Dont Ottos have problems settling in? Ive read on various sites that they are reknowned for having problems after transit.
The only thing im really going to have is a tub for the time being. I know Im going to be told off for not having a hospital tank but I really havent the space. With a one year old, you need to keep these things out harms way and I have no where as yet. I was thinking of the bedroom but that would just be awful!! Ill have nightmares of snails crawl over my face!!!! Haha!
I have a sponge filter. Its mature. Im not sure what the filter is. Ive had a post in the hardware forum now for over 24 hours with no replies. I dont think anyone knows what it is. I only got the tank on Saturday from a friend and have been doing water checks every day. Ive had a steady zero since then with Ammonia and Nitrite. I have Nitrate at 6.5mg/l and Ph at 7.5. Ill do a water change before these bad boys get in there. I have 4 Vallis, 3 Wisteria, and 2 lillicia. I also have a couple of plastic ones at the back. Theres plenty of stones in there too.

 

[jennybugs]

It's a good idea to worm any new DPs you get as they frequently come in to shops with IPs.

Otos can be difficult travellers but worth trying as they're lovely little fish and good algae eaters.

You'll need more filtration as they need a high turnover of water in the tank. I can quote facts and figs later. You mustn't even contemplate getting these guys if they can't go in to a cycled tank. Better to ask your lfs if they can keep hold of them for you if you pay a deposit

 

[paulypaul182]

It's a good idea to worm any new DPs you get as they frequently come in to shops with IPs.

Otos can be difficult travellers but worth trying as they're lovely little fish and good algae eaters.

You'll need more filtration as they need a high turnover of water in the tank. I can quote facts and figs later. You mustn't even contemplate getting these guys if they can't go in to a cycled tank. Better to ask your lfs if they can keep hold of them for you if you pay a deposit

The tanls definately cycled. 5th day and 0 ammonia and 0 Nitrite. 6.5mg/l for nitrate and 7.5 for pH. I wont be getting any till Saturday any way.

You say they need double filtration. I havent read about this anywhere. Is this an absolute must? If it is, do I need another filter of the same size for my tank? Where am I going to put it? Would this filter need to be cycled in as well or would it be ok putting this in as it is?

How long does worming take and how do I do it?

Its starting to seem very very expensive keeping these guys.

 

[iSnail]

IMHO, de-worming is just a precautionary measure. You don't need to de-worm them if they are not showing any signs of having internal parasites. I have had my original three DPs for nearly 3 years now and luckily have never had to de-worm them. However, I think the instructions of dosing the Wormerplus is fairly straight forward from what I recall reading on their website.

Over filtration is recommended as DPs are messy eaters and their diet consists of all meaty protein, unless you want to do 50% water change twice a week. Whether you need to have another filter depends on how heavily stocked your tank will be and what filtration already in place.

 

[squeakytoy]

I too have been thinking about getting one of these little guys. I am going to put him in a 5.5 gal, filtered by a penguin 170. It worked like a champ on my old 37, flows 170 gph.

So the questions become...

1] How much water movement is too much?

2] Kind of a side note, do you think they would go after an African giant fan shrimp? those really big guys?

3] are dp's opportunistic feeders or opportunistic killers? the distinction is, if you dump 30 ghost shrimp in the tank, will you come back the next day to 28-29 shrimp, or 3 live shrimp and about 25 bodies with just the eyes missing?

4] how many DP's would it take to carry a coconut?

 

[jennybugs]

You say they need double filtration. I havent read about this anywhere. Is this an absolute must? If it is, do I need another filter of the same size for my tank? Where am I going to put it? Would this filter need to be cycled in as well or would it be ok putting this in as it is?

How long does worming take and how do I do it?

Its starting to seem very very expensive keeping these guys.

Keeping these little guys is really no more expensive than setting up any other tropical tank, apart from the filter issue imho. I have a 100L juwel rekord tank with the inbuilt filter and a Fluval 2+ internal running and it's just right for my gang to keep the water sparkly clean, if that's anything to go by. I do 50% weekly water changes too.

IMHO, de-worming is just a precautionary measure. You don't need to de-worm them if they are not showing any signs of having internal parasites. I have had my original three DPs for nearly 3 years now and luckily have never had to de-worm them. However, I think the instructions of dosing the Wormerplus is fairly straight forward from what I recall reading on their website.

I used it when I first got my 3 DPs then also when I had 2 new ones and it is DEAD easy to use. The instructions that come with the meds are exceedingly clear and it's been just a one dose treatment for my tank...as said, once they're clear, unless you add new ones to a group, they should be perfectly fine.

I too have been thinking about getting one of these little guys. I am going to put him in a 5.5 gal, filtered by a penguin 170. It worked like a champ on my old 37, flows 170 gph.

So the questions become...

1] How much water movement is too much?

2] Kind of a side note, do you think they would go after an African giant fan shrimp? those really big guys?

3] are dp's opportunistic feeders or opportunistic killers? the distinction is, if you dump 30 ghost shrimp in the tank, will you come back the next day to 28-29 shrimp, or 3 live shrimp and about 25 bodies with just the eyes missing?

4] how many DP's would it take to carry a coconut?

Do you mean physical flow of the water? Baby DPs would struggle with too much water movement and there's the possibility of them being sucked into a filter when tiny if the filter's too powerful, but as adults they'll be able to swim through a reasonably strong flow. My tank has two filters flowing into the tank and with the plants, wood and pebble caves they have there's plenty of shelter for them if they need it.

I wouldn't risk DPs with anything like a fan shrimp. They will 'taste' the shrimp to see if it's edible and the fan shrimp won't be able to move fast enough to avoid their chompings.

None of my DPs have eaten any ghost shrimp apart from really small ones. They have, however, taken big chunks out of their backs etc. They only have small bellies, but if you feed them lots of bloodworms they will eat lots of bloodworms. On that note I recon you'd come down in the morning to mutilated shrimps of all sorts.

Re the coconut dilemma. Would we be talking about and African or European Dwarf Puffer?

 

[squeakytoy]

[/quote]
Re the coconut dilemma. Would we be talking about and African or European Dwarf Puffer?
[/quote]


I... I dont know...

lol, well, I went ahead and took the plunge, got what I think is a little girl. She got here awful skinny, though she had been in the store for about three weeks. She's in the hex with 2 ghost shrimp, with the penguin 200 ( I was wrong when I thought it was the 170...) and an Ehiem 2224 canister. (that I pickup up for a mere $60 ) Should give me filtration for about...110-120 gallons! And suprisingly, the flow isnt as deadly as you might think. The Ehiem seems pretty calm, and dead quite too! Very suprising how quiet that thing is. But the penguin will come off in a few weeks, once the canister has seeded. Then its time to mod the hex and make it look pretty, maybe make a stand to get it off the dresser that it's on right now. Anyway, about 8-9 bloodworms later, she fattened up nicely, and is currently sleeping it off in the boat wreck. Again, pics as I get them,

 

[jennybugs]

Aw. If she stays thin then I'd give her some IP meds.

Good luck with her. She'll give you many hours of enjoyment. They're such endearing little fish