Puffer In A Community Tank?

[iSnail]

I don't think Dwarf Puffers will eat fish unless the fish are really tiny eg. frys. They have very small mouths just big enough to fit a fattish bloodworm. However, they are definite fin-nippers. Even the fast movers like danio leopards can't escape IME. Extremely funny fish to watch though

 

[demonmagus]

I don't think Dwarf Puffers will eat fish unless the fish are really tiny eg. frys. They have very small mouths just big enough to fit a fattish bloodworm. However, they are definite fin-nippers. Even the fast movers like danio leopards can't escape IME. Extremely funny fish to watch though

they will rip the fish apart then, someone on this forum has a pic of a bashed up dead fish, and I think the cause was a DP

 

[iSnail]

I don't think Dwarf Puffers will eat fish unless the fish are really tiny eg. frys. They have very small mouths just big enough to fit a fattish bloodworm. However, they are definite fin-nippers. Even the fast movers like danio leopards can't escape IME. Extremely funny fish to watch though

they will rip the fish apart then, someone on this forum has a pic of a bashed up dead fish, and I think the cause was a DP

I'm not sure they will rip other fish apart to such extent. I had some baby mollies in the same tank at some point and they would take an ambush and bite their bellies and then completely ignore their victims afterwards. My theory is that the bellies of babies resemble small snails... but who knows what made them flip. DPs are best kept in a species tank in any case. You don't want to see your lovely fish being harrassed by the DPs all the time. At the same time, the DPs will be a lot calmer without other fish rushing around to irritate them.

 

[lordi]

iv got 6 DPs in my tank with 5 barbs a clone loach and 4 tetras and the only problem im having is the barbs try to take on the puffers..

the problem is you have one lot of people saying no and one lot saying yes.. strange how the ones that say you cann keep them in with othere fish are the ones that are and theye have no problems.

each unto there own i gues

 

[Fella]

I've kept different puffers in different tanks, and to be honest, SAP's I would be comfortable in keeping in a standard tank setting (even then some nipping would happen I would guess) and by standard tank setting I mean in a typical community of barbs, tetras etc. Irrubesco, and DPs I wouldn't keep in a tank without carefully selected tankmates. I keep irrubesco in a tank with 2 Bristlenose plecs, a bumblebee goby, and 2 oil cats currently. I wouldn't dare tempt them with anything schooling or active swimming.

As for my red eye puffer, I wouldn't put anything with him, not even ottos, not a single thing.

 

[SirMinion]

I don't think Dwarf Puffers will eat fish unless the fish are really tiny eg. frys. They have very small mouths just big enough to fit a fattish bloodworm. However, they are definite fin-nippers. Even the fast movers like danio leopards can't escape IME. Extremely funny fish to watch though

they will rip the fish apart then, someone on this forum has a pic of a bashed up dead fish, and I think the cause was a DP

That would be me.

We kept 5 dwarfs with a school of 11 tetras for many months without incident. then one morning we switched on the lights to find all but 3 tetras dead or missing.

South Americans are the only puffers that can be kept in a community tank in most cases. However they are not ideal for someone new to puffers due to their specialist needs.