I Got Some Dwarf Puffers!

[fishwatcher]

I have a well-cycled 10-gal tank with plants and some rocks. I got 3 "spotted" puffers today at the lfs. I was told I could fit 4-5 in the tank, but I thought 3 would more than enough. According to the fella at the fish store, they should get about 3-4" long (I say this, but don't really know the number since when I asked he said, oh about this big and spread his fingers apart a bit). So, I was also told that I would need to gradually add/increase salt to the tank as they got older. This is the part I really need help on... I've never had a brackish tank before.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! They are such cute little things. They are already hunting down every snail they can find... I'm so proud!

 

[flamingonhot]

Honestly, you should of done some research before getting them.

So here's some problems:

1. Some people keep green spotted puffers in 10 gallons, but even then it's only ONE fish in the tank. I really don't suggest any puffers for a 10 gallon other than the very small ones like red-eyed puffers, dwarves, figure eights possibly, and the like.

2. Puffers of the same species can be aggressive, that many in such a small tank will end up making them fight at least a couple of times, which may be fatal.

3. Each fish can get up to 6 inches, usually around 4. So I would suggest a 30 gallon MINIMUM.

4. They're, of course, brackish fish. The older they get the higher Sg levels need to be, most people tend to go ahead and put them in full saltwater when fully grown, even though they don't need to be.

5. Since they are in freshwater there is a VERY high chance of them getting ich, everytime I've seen one in freshwater, they get ich a couple weeks later and never recover, usually dying a couple days after they get a huge infestation.

There's a lot more but that's mainly what I wanted to say. I would suggest getting rid of them, buying a bigger tank, or at least taking back all but one.

Good luck!

 

[fishwatcher]

WHAT??? They get 6"? I can only have MAYBE 1 in there?? WTH!!! I went in there and asked for dwarf puffers (I've researched them pretty well), planning on getting 1 m, 2 fm. He said, well we don't have that exact type, but we have these and yada yada yada. And it went from there. I can't believe it.... what should I do? I'd rather not have to add salt really, but I was willing to do it to have such cute little guys. They're only about an inch long right now. I certainly can't get a bigger tank, so I guess they have to go back. I won't be able to go until at least this weekend though. (He's 45 min from my house.) Do you think they'll be ok until then? Should I add salt now? And if I do, will I have to empty the tank out to get the real dwarf puffers in a week or so? Oh, I'm so mad and upset... why would they do that?? AAHHHHH!

 

[nmonks]

Indeed. Please, go out and buy a copy of one or other of the two pufferfish books out there. The best is perhaps the Aqualog one by Klaus Ebert (German, but there's an English translation; ~20 Euros). There's a little book by Chris Ralph called Pufferfish (~4 UK Pounds) that isn't quite as good but will cover the basics.

Pufferfish are difficult fish, and there are all sorts of things to consider. It's important to read up as much as possible before obtaining them. Nice fish though, and in the right tank, they will bring you years of pleasure. Of all the fish people keep, these Asian puffers seem to come closest to being dog-like in their intelligence and curiosity. In other words, they're well worth the effort.

Cheers,

Neale

Honestly, you should of done some research before getting them...

 

[flamingonhot]

I would just take them back and get some other fish and wait until you have the right tank and enough knowledge on them.

I wouldn't add salt, take them back before anything. Adding too much salt will end up killing them (happens 80% in most cases that i've seen) and can possibly kill off some of your bacteria.

Take care of the little guys like you are at the moment until you have the chance to get back up there.

 

[fishwatcher]

Ok then. I know they'll take fish back, as I have taken things back before. (Most recently some danios that were just too active for my taste. I had them in a 20-gal.) There is another place that I know for a fact has some dwarf puffers, I just went to the closest place. I'm so upset about this.... I should have known not to buy something without researching it myself first. I never do; I don't know why I trusted him this time.
Well, hopefully they'll be ok until this weekend.
Thanks for the heads-up on this.

 

[fishwatcher]

Well, I was able to take them back today, unexpectedly. I got a trio of dwarfs from the other fish store in the city - 1m, 2fm. I have done quite a bit of research on these, but is there any little tidbit of info, tricks, tips, what-have-you that anyone would like to share? Something maybe not found on the typical dwarf puffer posting?
Thanks!

 

[nmonks]

There's an excellent pinned topic here. Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[flamingonhot]

Just don't underestimate them

I've seen a baby one take on (and scare to the other side of the tank) a whole pack of like 30 bala sharks in petsmart. Pretty funny, and on bigger fish they'll go on tail rides, they bite and don't let go.