Other than Otto's

[KentBlokey]

In say a 10 gallon?

I've read that some people have done OK with Shrimp, but that's not a guarentee that they won't become Lunch.

 

[sylvia]

Let me just say I've never kept puffers first so don't take my word for it. However, I think a couple of khulies would work as I recall seeing a pic with some with DPs kept by someone on this site.

 

[KentBlokey]

Thanks, I'd never thought of them.


Will look into that some more though, Just in case.

 

[TorPeteO]

I have some shrimp with my DPs, but I don't expect them to last all that long. I put them in the tank intended as live food because the puffers hadn't eaten frozen bloodworm yet (one has since begun, but the other two are still hesitant). If the shrimp last, great, if not, your puffer(s) will be happy.

Generally, any fish that won't move around too much and attract your puffers' attention could be alright. You also want to make sure that the tankmates won't beat the puffers to their food; mine are usually pretty slow eaters, and like to check out their food before eating them.

If your tank is large enough, you might be able to get a pleco. I think I am going to try adding a small one in a little while, once I'm convinced my puffers are well acclimated to their tank and are readily eating bloodworm.

I can't really think of many mid- or surface-dwellers that would be good with DPs, unfortunately.

 

[KentBlokey]

Thank's TorPeteO. I was thinking something along the lines of a Pleco, loach. I don't have the DP so there's plenty of time to decide

 

[Erised]

Some people say you can keep bristlenose plecs with them, banjo cats, kuhlie loaches, ottos ... you name it. Fact remains, dwarf puffers are not a good community fish! Chances of your other fish getting harmed or simply dying because of stress are high. Just stay with species only, 2 dwarfs in a 10G will be enough to keep you entertained

 

[SirMinion]

We have freshwater bumblebee gobies, bristlenose plecs & a banjo cat with our Dwarfs.

Khuli loaches might work, but I doubt it because they're too wriggly.

The fact that the tank is only 10g seriously limits you too.

 

[TorPeteO]

In a 10 gallon, get a smaller species of pleco. It's much better to be understocked than near- or overstocked, and DPs have enough character that you won't get bored of the tank.

If you do set that up, make sure;

1) You have lots of driftwood, so the pleco(s) can hide and have something to chew on.

2) You have lots of plants, for the puffer(s) to build territory and for the pleco(s) to feel safe and secure.

3) A well-cycled tank with mature colonies of bacteria, and stable water parameters.

4) A good routine of keeping up with water changes and keeping parameters out of toxic levels.

5) Most importantly, time! Puffers, even smaller species like DPs, are a large undertaking. You can't simply throw the food in their tank and let them go, you need to slowly feed them, making sure to offer enough but not too much, to ensure the water doesn't become polluted. You also need to be able to devote the time for water changes and such.

Good luck! Keep us posted on your decisions.

 

[KentBlokey]

Thanks all of you.

I've got loads of stuff to read through and understand a bit about them.

The main reason for asking was algae. I did read somewhere that algae can be a problem in a Puffer Tank, and quite a few people on here seem to be having problems with Otto's, Other than that, I wasn't expecting to put anything else in there.

 

[noelberg]

I love the smaller plecs to death, but I'm not always convinced they're the best option for a 10G. Add driftwood to the tank, and you don't have a huge amount of room for a fish that can get to be 6-8 inches easily - plus finding small driftwood can sometimes be tricky. Depending on how many DP's you have, I'd be concerned about biomass.

If you do go with a mini plec, also consider rubbernoses.

Just my two cents. good luck!

 

[jflowers]

I (my son actually) keep two otos in with a DP and no problems yet but I keep a very close eye on the tank and have another tank they can be moved to instantly if anything occurs. I keep expecting to see nipped fins but havn't yet, but its only been a month and I keep them well fed, snails, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp and bloodworm for the puffer and algae tabs and flake for the oto's. I must strongly emphasise the 'yet' though, DP's get moodier as they get older.

Jon

 

[KentBlokey]

Cheers!

Well the main choice everywhere seems to be Oto's. I've read up on them and unserstand why they can die so easily. But I think they will be be my choice after all. Thanks.

 

[SirMinion]

I keep two otos in with a DP and no problems yet...I must strongly emphasise the 'yet' though, DP's get moodier as they get older.

Very true.

I keep wheeling this picture out, but it demonstrates what can happen when dwarf puffers get to maturity.

The school of rummynose tetras lived in the DP tank for months without so much as a nipped fin.. until one morning we found that the shoal of tetras had been reduced from eight to three overnight..

This is the fate of the Puffers previously untouched tankmates...

Otos may well go the same way after months of succesful co-habiting.

You have been warned!

 

[KentBlokey]

Oh great, there went my breakfast
But thanks for the warning.

 

[Opcn]

Otos are a bit roughter and arent as flashy, most puffers wont notice a fish if its not swimming very fast.