I bought a Pea Puffer

[SirMinion]

Are you shure that it isn't a dwarf puffer fish. I have never even hered of a pea puffer before


Daveo

Carinotetraodon imitator is definately a dwarf puffer.

A lot of LFS's make up 'common' names if they don't know what they are, and pea puffer is quite a good (and cute) name!

Example.

Me: "Oh, what are those?"  *points at pretty schooling fish with a black and white striped tails*

LFS: "They're..um zebra tailed tetras, yeah."

So I went home, looked them up and found that they were actually rummynose tetras..

 

[Pufferpack]

Then I added an equal amount of 50% to take the place of 50% of the 5 gal, from the water from the 18 gal

Unfortunately there is very little of the bacteria in the water itself, I would recomend taking some of the filter media or gravel from the 18 gal and adding it to the 5 gal, that should give the 5 a big boost.

 

[Jennifer_R]

I had gravel from all my tanks in there. I have a bucket I store the used but unused gravel in. There's that gravel in there.

He's doing ok. Looks a little lonely, but purks up when I watch him. So cute!

~Jen

 

[djprincessx]

you might want to get a friend for your puffer.... they like groups... so get another dwarf puffer and you'll be set in the 5gal!

 

[amazingbioloboydp]

pea puffer is an actual common name for them.

 

[Jennifer_R]

you might want to get a friend for your puffer.... they like groups... so get another dwarf puffer and you'll be set in the 5gal!

I was under the impression they will pick on whatever; another puffer included! Also, a Member (cannot remember screen name) posted in this thread that my little guy would love a 5 gal for himself.

So what's OK? Buy another puffer and have them fight? Or, let him be in his 5 gal; where fresh water puffers don't live too long (as I've heard) anyway?

I will leave him in the 5 gal and like him for who he is, and enjoy the little fin movements and be happy with my Puffer-Man.

~Jen

 

[GP]

Get another puffer for him. Then, after about a month or so, when you start to see some algea, buy 3 ottos. Or, you can buy the ottos now and get some algea waffers.

 

[Pufferpack]

Dwarf puffers are fine as singletons in their own tank. Some of them have a nasty enough personality that they won't tolerate other puffers (or even other fish) in their tank, while others seem to enjoy having company.
I have a tendency to project human feelings onto most of my fish, but especially my puffers because they are so personable and interactive with people, and I always feel that they need another fish to keep them company. Over time I have learned the hard way that if a puffer doesn't particularly want company they are quite capable of removing the new occupant with extreme prejudice. As long as your Dwarf is not "sulking" in the corner all day, and is relatively active, there is no real need to get it some "friends"..
If you are looking to add tankmates for "cleanup duties" then Ottos are a good choice for the smaller tanks, or even Algae eating shrimp can make good tankmates (they may end up as food for the puffer but they get some good cleaning in before they turn into a snack).

Or, let him be in his 5 gal; where fresh water puffers don't live too long (as I've heard) anyway?

If kept in the right conditions many FW puffers are reported to live for 15+ years. I'm not positive but I believe that Dwarves would fall into this catagory as well.

 

[Jennifer_R]

Dwarf puffers are fine as singletons in their own tank. Some of them have a nasty enough personality that they won't tolerate other puffers (or even other fish) in their tank, while others seem to enjoy having company.
I have a tendency to project human feelings onto most of my fish, but especially my puffers because they are so personable and interactive with people, and I always feel that they need another fish to keep them company. Over time I have learned the hard way that if a puffer doesn't particularly want company they are quite capable of removing the new occupant with extreme prejudice. As long as your Dwarf is not "sulking" in the corner all day, and is relatively active, there is no real need to get it some "friends"..
If you are looking to add tankmates for "cleanup duties" then Ottos are a good choice for the smaller tanks, or even Algae eating shrimp can make good tankmates (they may end up as food for the puffer but they get some good cleaning in before they turn into a snack).

Or, let him be in his 5 gal; where fresh water puffers don't live too long (as I've heard) anyway?

If kept in the right conditions many FW puffers are reported to live for 15+ years. I'm not positive but I believe that Dwarves would fall into this catagory as well.

"As long as your Dwarf is not "sulking" in the corner all day, and is relatively active, there is no real need to get it some "friends".. "

-He is active! I've seen him attack my Cory's with vengeance and stealth; as to enjoy the nip, “ha-ha!!”

So, I will leave my Puffer-Man in his own 5 gal tank. I will be shutting down a 10 gal tank today or tomorrow, so I will add gravel from the 10 gal tank to the 5 gal; as many of you were worried about the cycled water issue with the newer 5 gal tank.

Thanks everyone!

~Jen

 

[Jennifer_R]

I read the, " What should I feed my puffer?" Thread after doing a search in this forum.

My question is about the snails.

My single Dwarf "Pea" Puffer, in a 5 gal tank, eats the blood worms just fine.

My Puffer does not eat Brine Shrimp, and does not eat Flake.


Watching the Puffer hunt snails sounds entertaining. However, the Puffer is in a 5 gal tank.

Question:
Should I introduce a tiny snail into my 5 gal tank?
If the Puffer doesn't hunt it, wouldn't I be stuck with a snail issue?

What is your opinion?

~Jen

 

[SirMinion]

If the Puffer doesn't hunt it, wouldn't I be stuck with a snail issue?

Ain't gonna happen. A Dwarf Puffer not hunting snails would be like a shark not hunting seals.

Snail hatchlings - swallowed whole
Small snails - crunched up.
Larger snails - sucked out of their shells.
buried snails - tracked down by vibrations under the sand and dug up & eaten

Do not give your puffer small trumpet snails (the ones shaped like an ice cream cone) as the shells are too hard and can break the puffer's teeth. Ramshorn snails are best (shaped like a flat spiral)

 

[Jennifer_R]

If the Puffer doesn't hunt it, wouldn't I be stuck with a snail issue?

Ain't gonna happen. A Dwarf Puffer not hunting snails would be like a shark not hunting seals.

Snail hatchlings - swallowed whole
Small snails - crunched up.
Larger snails - sucked out of their shells.
buried snails - tracked down by vibrations under the sand and dug up & eaten

Do not give your puffer small trumpet snails (the ones shaped like an ice cream cone) as the shells are too hard and can break the puffer's teeth. Ramshorn snails are best (shaped like a flat spiral)

Oh really! Cool!

Even my Dwarf Puffer can eat the snails you listed; in the 5 gal tank he lives?

Should I start out by purchasing a few hatchlings snails?

~Jen

 

[tear-scar]

lol . . . zebra tailed tetras . . .

Too bad he was picking on the cories . . . I'm sure the rams if well established would be able to handle themselves against the lurking puffer . . .

Anyway, I was going to say that cycling the new one shouldn't be that hard since you can use materials from your establised tank.

Remember you can also borrow some filter media! A dirty sponge from your first filter is a great aset!

<Edit>
Snails are a good idea, just wait for him to eat him one at a time.

I think the shrimps are another great idea. My LFs sells feeder shrimp 15 for $1. The shrimp will clean algae and ruffle through your substrate -- both great benefits. They should keep the puffer entertained until they're all gone; and they don't reproduce rapidly like snails if that's what you're worried about so you can toss in tons into the tank at the same time.

 

[Jennifer_R]

Oh... feeder shrimp too! OK!
Thanks,
~Jen

 

[LittlePuff]

I've got a ten gallon with five dwarfs. I have a five gallon and a two gallon just to breed snails. It's hard to keep up. Feed them 2-3 at least 3 times a week.Crush the larger ones first, so they will eat their shell.

www dwarfpuffers

Kim