Newbie here with Dwarf Puffers

[vi3t88]

Hi guys, we'll i guess i'll make this my first post

I've been keeping a cichlid, 2 kois and a couple other goldies and shunubkins (sp?) for about 4 months and i think im ready to start expanding my pet list.

Reading around i found out that puffers interests me the most, reading more i found how neat the little dwarf puffers are and i also know how its gonna be harder than keeping a measly cichlid or koi. To start off i think i might buy 1 maybe two dp and a 10 gallon tank. So here are some of my questions, feel free (i'd appreciate it) if you add in any other info!

1. how long do they live, i heard 5 years ish?
2. how long till they can mate?
3. i've been hearing numerous things about their eating habits, can someone give me a simply straight answer as to what the easiest way i feed them is?
4. are they common to find in stores? do they sell by season?
5. BIG QUESTION: what would be an ideal way to setup their tank? what kind of water? is it okay if i use water thats been sitting outside (covered of course) for a 4 days ish?
6. what is their maintenence like? what kind of filter should i use? (i am a filter noob too so please explain what kind of filter)
7. can i feed them water melons or odd food like that occasionally?
8. how much do they cost?
9. if not dwarf puffers, what would be a nice alternative? what is the price for that one?

well i think thats all i can think of for now, feel free to add in any info for me please! thankyou everyone!

ps. does anyone have a nice pic of a DP that has blown up?

 

[SirMinion]

All these questions can be answered by making use of the search function.

However:

1. Yes, three to five years.
2. About 5 months, but it's unlikely (but not impossible) for them to breed in a tank.
3. Small invertibrates. Live is best but most will eat frozen. By this I mean things like:
   • bloodworm
   • mysis shrimp
   • brine shrimp
   • glassworm
   • daphnia (water fleas)
   • snail hatchlings
   • tiny or chopped earthworms.
   Very few puffers will even try dried or processed foods.
4. This depends on where in the world you live! Here in England they are quite common, with four of the seven fish stores withing 25 miles of here stocking them regualy, but they do seem to be seasonal.
5. AT LEAST 5 gallons per fish in conditioned plain tapwater. NO SALT.
   You could use water that's been sitting for a while, but why would you want to? you'd still need to add conditioner anyway because standing doesn't remove dissolved metals or chloromines.
   The tank should have a sand base and have some areas of dense planting (real or fake plants) as well as caves such as flowerpots.
6. Maintainance is fairly simple IF you have compatable fish which only time will tell. The filter should be rated for a tank at least one and a half times the size of the tank that you have because puffers are messy fish that require very very clean water. The filter should have protected inlets so the puffers cannot get stuck. Any internal, external or 'hang-on-back' filter would be suitable. Don't use an undergravel filter as they don't work with sand, and puffers much prefer sand.
7. Dwarf Puffers are carnivores, I very much doubt they're be interested in watermelon or any fruit or vegatables. Puffers like food that wriggles!
8. Around here they cost £2 to £4 each.
9. There are no other easy to keep small puffers. The nearest would be the Red-Eyed puffer but they are rather harder to keep and even harder to find.

ps...Dwarf puffers can inflate, but they very very rarely do so and on no account should anyone try to cause their fish to inflate.