What Do I Ned For Dwarfs?

[stucolls]

Hey guys, once my 5ft long 150 litre tak is running I will have a spare 20gallon hexagon tank, it currently has a gravel substrate, a few rocks, pots and fake lpants, an elite stingray 15 filter and a 300W heater (which I will prob put into main big tank)

Could I throw some dwarf puffers straight into it? if so how many could I have in there? they would be species only in the tank and would I need anything else?

thanks all

Stu

 

[shmikuk]

Hey guys, once my 5ft long 150 litre tak is running I will have a spare 20gallon hexagon tank, it currently has a gravel substrate, a few rocks, pots and fake lpants, an elite stingray 15 filter and a 300W heater (which I will prob put into main big tank)

Could I throw some dwarf puffers straight into it? if so how many could I have in there? they would be species only in the tank and would I need anything else?

thanks all

Stu

Not sure about throwing some in there.. but i am sure they would be ok. I have dp's and i get most of my specialist advice from the 'Dwarf Puffer forum' (dwarfpuffers com) Bunch of good guys and lots of helpfull advice.

 

[stucolls]

LOL didnt mean literally lobbing them in just meant when I move my main fish into the big tank am I set up enough to have dwarf puffers in the hextank, will try your forum though.
Thanks
Stu

 

[iSnail]

Just make sure your tank is fully cycled. The little DPs are quite sensitive. Also, I think you might need to upgrade your filter in the long run. The Stingray 15 is designed for a 15 Gallon(US) tank and DPs are heavy poopers so you really want to over-filter the tank rather than under, especially when you don't have real plants. But obviously that depends on how heavily stocked your tank is going to be and how often you do water changes. They are nosy little buggers so plenty of hiding places and plants really helps.

 

[stucolls]

Ok thats excellent thankyou, I was intending on adding a few real plants too but I think your right on the upgrade of filter, so how many could I hav in a 20gal?

 

[garuf]

Ok thats excellent thankyou, I was intending on adding a few real plants too but I think your right on the upgrade of filter, so how many could I hav in a 20gal?

the general rule is 1puffer for every 3 gallons so thats 5 in a 15gallon 6 in a 20, i understand its not a good idea to have more than one male though, i could be wrong but its worth checking up on
hope this helps

 

[stucolls]

That seems right, I just checked out dwarfpuffersdotcom and they suggest 3gal per dp.

Cool, I cant wait, all I need is a slightly better filter and lots of plants!

They are so cool but my lfs only ever has 2 or 3 in, I want 5 or 6!!!!

Thanks
Stu

 

[garuf]

That seems right, I just checked out dwarfpuffersdotcom and they suggest 3gal per dp.

Cool, I cant wait, all I need is a slightly better filter and lots of plants!

They are so cool but my lfs only ever has 2 or 3 in, I want 5 or 6!!!!

Thanks
Stu

thats probably for the best, even with a already established tank its a band idea to add alot of fish all at once, especialy when theyre as messy as DP's

 

[iSnail]

Ok thats excellent thankyou, I was intending on adding a few real plants too but I think your right on the upgrade of filter, so how many could I hav in a 20gal?

the general rule is 1puffer for every 3 gallons so thats 5 in a 15gallon 6 in a 20, i understand its not a good idea to have more than one male though, i could be wrong but its worth checking up on
hope this helps

Unfortunately most of the DPs I've seen in LFS are juveniles and almost impossible to sex them. Males do tend to be more territorial than females in general but whether a group of DPs will get on well REALLY depends on the individual DP's personalities.

 

[iSnail]

That seems right, I just checked out dwarfpuffersdotcom and they suggest 3gal per dp.

Cool, I cant wait, all I need is a slightly better filter and lots of plants!

They are so cool but my lfs only ever has 2 or 3 in, I want 5 or 6!!!!

Thanks
Stu

thats probably for the best, even with a already established tank its a band idea to add alot of fish all at once, especialy when theyre as messy as DP's

Beware, if you do add new ones after the first ones have settled in, make sure you change the scape around since the ones already in the tank might start to think they have intruders and attack the newbies.

 

[stucolls]

hmmm I think I shall go for maybe 3 dp's then, gives em more room then anyway, any suggestions on tank mates?

 

[iSnail]

I have Amano shrimps with mine and they have been fine. I think a lot of people have ottos with them without much problems.

 

[stucolls]

hmmm, like the sound of the otos, what about a shark? too much agression?

 

[iSnail]

hmmm, like the sound of the otos, what about a shark? too much agression?

I doubt very much the tiny DPs will like sharks. They hate anything fast. The options are very limited TBH.

 

[stucolls]

fair enough, I think I will just go for 3 dp's and maybe 1 or 2 otos

Thanks