Dwarf puffer?

[graceluvsplatys]

I have a 7g long tank. is there any type of freshwater puffer who would be happy in it? or, would 1 or 2 dwarf puffers work out?

[invadertoast]

Don't know about 2 dwarf puffers, but I successfully kept a single one in a 2.5 gallon for a long time. They're territorial so I don't know how they would do together in such a small tank. I was very vigilent with my water conditions and he did wonderfully even in such a small tank. They're only about the size of a jellybean, but they're personality is HUGE! Great fish!

[graceluvsplatys]

really? a jellybean? where can i get one lol im serious, ive never seen one before.

its a 7g double long does that make a dif?
will they do well with anything else?

[MandyL]

The only warning I have about puffers is it's fairly rare to get one that will eat prepared foods. Most require live food.

[Minderella83]

My daughter had 2 a while ago and they did wonderful in an Eclipse 12, I would feed them brine shrimp and they do have lots of personality, I got them from PetSmart.

[graceluvsplatys]

I will check petsmart, and ask what they are feeding him..

[gm72]

I usually hear one puffer per 4 gallons.

[invadertoast]

I got mine from Petsmart too, but it was a couple years ago and I have only seen them for sale once since then! I think the second time I saw them was at a Petco, but I really can't remember. Look them up on YouTube, there are some really neat videos on there (they hunt baby snails)

[graceluvsplatys]

yikes!
so, could i get two? or something else in there?
I just bthink that 1 jellybean sized fish in a 7g would be weird

[SpyderSpy6]

You would be fine with two of them in the tank. I use to have a set of 5 and they were awesome!!! I really liked them, but as it was said before... they would only eat live food. I tried frozen krill and the freeze dried and only one of them would nip at it but never took it as a meal.

This was back in my beginner days, and I bought them just because they looked awesome. I had them for about a year and a half before they began to perish. You need to keep immaculate water conditions, and because they are such messy eater's that means you almost have to do a mini cleans when you feed them. (Or atleast everyother day).

If the dwarf puffer encounters any bit of stress, they will show it and that's not a good sign. It seemed that any time one of them got pissed off, they would puff up and shortly after they would die.

I do think I had too many at one point and with the others not dieing, I kept only two in there for a long time and they did well together. I ended up moving and had to give them away and because they were sooo hard to keep, I decided to try my hand at other tanks.

If you have any other fish in the tank, those little guys will nip the fins of them and stress it out until it dies... so keeping the tank clean is hard. The only fish that I was able to keep in there with them were a pair of cory cats, and they made it for awhile, but eventually the inevitable happened and I found them with fins half chewed.

Even though I haven't had them for a while, reading this forum is making me want to go and get some for an empty 20 gallon that I have!! I think I'm gonna!!! :19:

[squirt_12]

You might be able to keep 2 ina 7g long. But that would be pushing it. You should have a planted tank (live or fake) as they like planted areas. You also have to have snails without a trapdoor available at all times. The puffers have teeth and the snails wear down the teeth. So you have to make sure that there are always a few snails for the puffers to chew on.

[graceluvsplatys]

ok, i still have not found any yet tho, so.....
i am assuming if I got two, I would add them toghether/

[squirt_12]

ok, i still have not found any yet tho, so.....
i am assuming if I got two, I would add them toghether/
Yes, if you got 2 you would add them at the same time. If you were to add one then a few weeks later add another, the first one will have claimed the tank as his territory and might kill the other one.
If you get them, make sure that there are lots of places for each to claim territory on. They will probably claim each side of the tank.

[SpyderSpy6]

Just a little tid bit to the last post...

The established puffer WILL attack the new puffer within 2 seconds of you putting it in... it's not a good sight to see. I only know this because I did it. It's a major buzzkill watching your new fish get beat up!

[LosC]

I would get 2 that have been raised together. If not, add the 2 at the same time. Dwarf puffers establish a pecking order. They love frozen bloodworms. They only puff up once or twice in a lifetime. They get bored easily, I would crowd the tank with deco and plants for them, it's fun watching them explore with their big ol eyes. It's not recommended to give them tankmates although ppl have kept them with some inverts and peaceful bottom dwellers. Close to impossible to breed. Learn to sex them and get females. Sensitive to any slight change in water parameters and to nitrates. Very smart fish. never take them out of water. Net them while in water and put them in a mug or cup under water then cover the cup or mug with a book. They like to jump out from the tiniest spaces, have a good hood.