Some Dwarf Puffer Questions

[trianglekitty]

I will soon have an empty 5 gallon tank and I was considering a dwarf puffer. I read through the sticky post on them, but I still have some questions.

* I would only have one puffer due to the tank size. Do they do better in pairs or more, or are they happy being solitary?

* My other options would be a betta. Any opinions on which fish is more "interactive" and interesting?

* What would be the best way to make sure the tank is overfiltered (since I know puffers are messy)without having too strong a current? My filter on the five gallon is rated for 10 gallon, but I would probably replace it for one rated for 20

* I actually have two five gallon tanks. One is a "goldfish" type that is plastic. I've been told not to heat it as the heat would cause toxins to leech from the plastic. I've also been told this is untrue and adding a heater would be fine. I'd like to save the other tank for a hospital tank. Any thoughts? I might just buy a third one and junk the cheap one.

 

[noisysprings]

I would be concerned having just one Dwarf Puffer as in my experiance they get bored very easy.

This tends to manifest with them "pacing up and down the glass"

Although this looks cool it generally means puffer is unhappy.

Much happier fish if you can have more than one or match it to a compatible tankmate.

 

[trianglekitty]

I would be concerned having just one Dwarf Puffer as in my experiance they get bored very easy.

This tends to manifest with them "pacing up and down the glass"

Although this looks cool it generally means puffer is unhappy.

Much happier fish if you can have more than one or match it to a compatible tankmate.

That's what I was concerned with- I read that you can keep one in a five gallon, but I had a feeling it wouldn't be the happiest fish that way. And I wouldn't think having two in that size tank even with frequent water changes would be wise. I know some fish are perfectly happy alone, I was hoping puffers would be one of them so I'd have an excuse to get one.

 

[hillmar77]

I can't see why you cant have 2 of them. Just put a bunch of ornaments in so they can make up there territory's. Mine fight all the time during feedings but after feedings they like to explore together. Though they do have different sleeping locations in the tank.

 

[trianglekitty]

I can't see why you cant have 2 of them. Just put a bunch of ornaments in so they can make up there territory's. Mine fight all the time during feedings but after feedings they like to explore together. Though they do have different sleeping locations in the tank.

My understanding is that they are very messy fish, and even with regular water changes for two you should have ten gallons. Hard to imagine that such little things could make so much waste!

 

[hillmar77]

I can't see why you cant have 2 of them. Just put a bunch of ornaments in so they can make up there territory's. Mine fight all the time during feedings but after feedings they like to explore together. Though they do have different sleeping locations in the tank.

My understanding is that they are very messy fish, and even with regular water changes for two you should have ten gallons. Hard to imagine that such little things could make so much waste!

That's new to me... my pair of dwarf puffers hardly make a mess. Sometimes when I get to my weekly water changes the gravel is so clean, there is nothing to suck up but water. Though I do keep them on a strict diet of Hikari frozen bloodworms and frozen spirulina brine shrimp.

 

[trianglekitty]

I can't see why you cant have 2 of them. Just put a bunch of ornaments in so they can make up there territory's. Mine fight all the time during feedings but after feedings they like to explore together. Though they do have different sleeping locations in the tank.

My understanding is that they are very messy fish, and even with regular water changes for two you should have ten gallons. Hard to imagine that such little things could make so much waste!

That's new to me... my pair of dwarf puffers hardly make a mess. Sometimes when I get to my weekly water changes the gravel is so clean, there is nothing to suck up but water. Though I do keep them on a strict diet of Hikari frozen bloodworms and frozen spirulina brine shrimp.

Well that's good to know! And you find your two get along well in that size tank? I would have live plants and ornaments. I just know it can be hard to know the sex when they are very young and I'm worried I'll end up with two males that will squabble.

 

[Shovelman]

Hey there! I strongly suggest you stay away from 2 puffers in a 5 gallon. I only have one in my 10 gallons with LOADS of plants and such to break the line of sight, and yet i still find this guy pacing up and down the glass. I am no novice when it comes to DP's, so take what you want from what i say, but if 1 puffer can get bored in a 10 gallon tank, then imagine how two would be in a smaller one! Not to mention they would be more tight on space making territorial issues, especially if bored. So if i were you, 1 in your five gallon!

 

[hillmar77]

I really can't imagine having just one puffer.... he would get pretty lonely. When I got my pair, there was no way of telling sex because they where the size as a grain of rice. My puffers always pace up and down the glass when people are around, I think they are personable and always curious on whats going on in the house.

 

[trianglekitty]

Hey there! I strongly suggest you stay away from 2 puffers in a 5 gallon. I only have one in my 10 gallons with LOADS of plants and such to break the line of sight, and yet i still find this guy pacing up and down the glass. I am no novice when it comes to DP's, so take what you want from what i say, but if 1 puffer can get bored in a 10 gallon tank, then imagine how two would be in a smaller one! Not to mention they would be more tight on space making territorial issues, especially if bored. So if i were you, 1 in your five gallon!

Would you suggest not getting one at all though, if a 5 gallon is all you have? I'd rather not have one than have one unhappy one, you know?

 

[Shovelman]

Hey there! I strongly suggest you stay away from 2 puffers in a 5 gallon. I only have one in my 10 gallons with LOADS of plants and such to break the line of sight, and yet i still find this guy pacing up and down the glass. I am no novice when it comes to DP's, so take what you want from what i say, but if 1 puffer can get bored in a 10 gallon tank, then imagine how two would be in a smaller one! Not to mention they would be more tight on space making territorial issues, especially if bored. So if i were you, 1 in your five gallon!

Would you suggest not getting one at all though, if a 5 gallon is all you have? I'd rather not have one than have one unhappy one, you know?

Yeah i know what you mean. As long as the tank is densly planted and good water is consistant, he should be fine. Not to mention food is a bit of an issue as most will only accept snails and shrimp, especially if your local fish store gets them from the wild. So consistant source of snails or ghost shrimp is all they really need. Try have an easy to move peice of driftwood to change things up once and a while... but overall i think it's do-able, and yes just stick with one, he wont get lonely as long as you pay attention to him every once in a while (doubt they can get 'lonely' though)