Puffer Species

[nmonks]

I don't think it really matters, so long as the snails are small enough for the puffer to eat. You might want to breed your own. That's what a lot of serious puffer folks seem to do. As for the Malayan snails, my South American does (rarely) eat really tiny ones, but ignores the larger ones. I'd like to think puffers are smart enough to know what they can safely eat and what they can't; after all, in the wild they don't have aquarists following them around pointing out the good stuff!

Cheers,

Neale

Hi I have three dwarf puffers and was wondering what's the best type of snail to give them? I know not to do trumpet snails as their shells are too hard but what are other good types?

 

[babybell911]

ok thanks x

 

[Pufferpack]

One word of caution if planning to add snails with trap doors, Dwarves can get "slammed" in the trap door when they take a bite out of the snail meat so try to use smaller ones if that is all you can get. Common pond snails are likely the easiest to get and will breed like mad in a seperate tank/container.

 

[bjs]

hi everyone
this thread has been a great source of info
im looking to get a colmesus asellus to go in my community tank which contains
silver sharks/scissor tails/angels/neons/clown loaches/RTB/corydoras
the tank is 4'x2'x2' planted
will this b ok?
caroline

 

[Fella]

hi everyone
this thread has been a great source of info
im looking to get a colmesus asellus to go in my community tank which contains
silver sharks/scissor tails/angels/neons/clown loaches/RTB/corydoras
the tank is 4'x2'x2' planted
will this b ok?
caroline

I had a colomesus asellus with a panda garra, a fish very similar to RTBS, but the garra harassed the SAP to death. That was in a 40g, so I would think a 4x2x2 may be ok, just be wary, and plant heavily.

 

[nmonks]

I'll second what Fella said above. SAPs simply aren't aggressive, robust pufferfish in the way that the Asian species are. For one thing, they're schooling fish in the wild, and when kept singly are fairly highly strung (think how skittish a single Corydoras is, and you have the right idea). SAPs may nip certain fish (slow moving ones in particular) buy beyond that they're totally inoffensive, and have no ability to return aggression to anything at all.

Mine get pushed about by rams, Pelvicachromis taeniatus, even glassfish. So definitely choose companions for SAPs with care.

Anyway, looking over your selection, the neons will likely be ignored (my cardinals were when they shared a tank with the SAPs). But the angelfish will be nipped, and the clown loaches quite possible (Corydoras were nipped). What works safely with SAPs is fast, midwater stuff (e.g. bleeding heart tetras) and retiring nocturnal stuff (Synodontis nigriventris). Bleeding hearts are amazing fish... they are blindingly fast despite their fancy fins. I would imagine similar species, like your scissortails, would be safe, too.

Also, do consider getting multiple SAPs. They are so much happier in groups. In a tank your size, 3-5 specimens should be perfectly possible. At night especially you will see them resting together, and watching them fight over a single bloodworm is quite adorable!

Cheers,

Neale

 

[bjs]

thanks for your quick reply
do either of you know a good mail order compony in the uk ?
cause my lfs is taking forever to get me a price

never mined
iv just got 2 from trima deliverd direct to my door
greet service the fish are looking realy good just waiting for them to feed.

 

[christianflores]

im planning to get a small fahaka puffer for my 100 gallon but i dont know how much they cost in american dollars.

 

[christianflores]

i also know they are very aggressive and should be kept in a tank by itself with cautions,and does anyone know where i can buy one its been like about 2 weeks to try to buy one from some stores nearby,i live in US,California,San Francisco.

 

[Fella]

i also know they are very aggressive and should be kept in a tank by itself with cautions,and does anyone know where i can buy one its been like about 2 weeks to try to buy one from some stores nearby,i live in US,California,San Francisco.

I wouldn't know where to look for one, but if you've got a 100g, make sure it's got room to turn (around 24" is good) as they're active hunters.

Hope you get the fahaka you want

 

[Killi]

ooo great thread....has lots of useful information

I also have just a quick question What type of filtration best suits Dwarf Puffers (external/internal/undergravel etc), or does it matter???

I ask because Pets At Home said that when they order them in, I would have to pick them up as soon as they arrive as their filtration was unsuitable for puffers and this threw me a bit. I'm not really sure what filtration they were using, but I do want to make sure I get the best possible filtration for them.

 

[Fella]

ooo great thread....has lots of useful information

I also have just a quick question What type of filtration best suits Dwarf Puffers (external/internal/undergravel etc), or does it matter???

I ask because Pets At Home said that when they order them in, I would have to pick them up as soon as they arrive as their filtration was unsuitable for puffers and this threw me a bit. I'm not really sure what filtration they were using, but I do want to make sure I get the best possible filtration for them.

Filters are filters. Dwarf puffers are fish that grow to 2 inches. They will be able to consume less than a fish like an oscar, or reasonable sized bala shark, which they stock (at least in my local one). My advice would be to avoid using opets at home, and take their advice with a pinch of salt. A specialised LFS with trained staff may well be the better option in this instance.

As long as you have a filter rated for that size tank (at least) you'll be fine.

 

[DarkEntity]

im planning to get a small fahaka puffer for my 100 gallon but i dont know how much they cost in american dollars.

Check your tank dimensions prior to putting a Fahaka in that tank, usually its recommended a 125Gall+ for a Fahaka tank that will last its entire life. Remember its the depth aswell as length for this fish (2ft deep min) as it get large and likes to prown and swim about.

 

[Killi]

ooo great thread....has lots of useful information

I also have just a quick question What type of filtration best suits Dwarf Puffers (external/internal/undergravel etc), or does it matter???

I ask because Pets At Home said that when they order them in, I would have to pick them up as soon as they arrive as their filtration was unsuitable for puffers and this threw me a bit. I'm not really sure what filtration they were using, but I do want to make sure I get the best possible filtration for them.

Filters are filters. Dwarf puffers are fish that grow to 2 inches. They will be able to consume less than a fish like an oscar, or reasonable sized bala shark, which they stock (at least in my local one). My advice would be to avoid using opets at home, and take their advice with a pinch of salt. A specialised LFS with trained staff may well be the better option in this instance.

As long as you have a filter rated for that size tank (at least) you'll be fine.

Ok thanks

I thought it was a bit strange them say that!

 

[demonmagus]

yeah, petsathome aren't renowned for their advice. Are you going to cycle the tank or clone it?