Pea Puffer Questions

[Souperman]

I am thinking of getting a pea puffer for my 10 gallon tank. But before I did I had a few questions.

How would I need to feed it?(I would be feeding frozen food.)

I have heard that I would need to stick with one pea puffer for this tank. Is this true?

Any other useful info is also appreciated.

 

[fluttermoth]

What fish do you have in the tank currently, if any? Dwarf/pea puffers are very nippy and do better in a species only tank; your other fish might not be suitable tank mates (there aren't many).

Pea puffers really do best on a diet of live snails; when I had mine, i never got them to take any frozen foods, and that's quite common.

 

[Souperman]

The tank would be a pea puffer only tank and I was planning on feeding snails. I would just not be able to have them all the time because I currently don't have room to have a snail tank for raising snails so I would have to pick them up as needed. How fast do pea puffers go through snails?

 

[fluttermoth]

They go through a lot of snails. I started with three puffers and ended up with one; I strongly suspect they didn't get enough food, despite my best efforts, as they always looked slightly hollow bellied. I lost two very quickly (within a couple of weeks) the other one I had for about a year, and he ate four or five snails (about 5mm shell sized) every day.

I, at first, did what you're planning; but I very rapidly realised I would have to start breeding snails; I would very, very strongly advise you not to try keeping pea puffers unless you've got a good breeding population of snails. If they don't take to frozen foods, you will need the snails, no doubt about it, IMHO.

You don't need a lot of room to breed common pond or ramshorns snails (my puffers couldn't get into Malaysian trumpet snails; they have a very hard shell, even as newborns); any sort of container will do, and it doesn't need filtering or lighting; just daylight and some plants. I used little goldfish bowls quite successfully (I still have them going, even though I no longer have the puffers!)

 

[Souperman]

Thanks for the response I myself would be down to take on the task but currently I still live with my parents and they won't want me breeding snails. Good to know when I get to when I am able to I will be able to care for one though.

 

[**sarahp**]

You don't need a lot of room to breed common pond or ramshorns snails (my puffers couldn't get into Malaysian trumpet snails; they have a very hard shell, even as newborns); any sort of container will do, and it doesn't need filtering or lighting; just daylight and some plants. I used little goldfish bowls quite successfully (I still have them going, even though I no longer have the puffers!)

Where do you keep the snail bowls, indoors, in a garage? I'm wondering about temperature - I have some assassin snails and I need a food source for them so wondering if I could breed snails for them?

 

[fluttermoth]

I keep mine indoors, as I think the British winters are too cold for the snails to keep breeding; of course there are tropical snails too, which would need a heated tank. I just keep 'normal' pond ramshorns, although I do have some rather handsome red bodied ones that I'm very fond of

Breeding snails is really easy, as anyone who's ever had a snail infestation in their tank will know; any water tight container, some live plants and plenty of food, plus a few water changes every now and then

 

[**sarahp**]

Excellent, thanks for the info

*wanders off wondering how to convince OH that snail breeding is a good thing!!*

 

[fluttermoth]

Excellent, thanks for the info

*wanders off wondering how to convince OH that snail breeding is a good thing!!*

There are advantages to being single. One of them is putting random fish tanks and goldfish bowls around the house! I've got a lovely glass one with a few shrimps in on the coffee table!

I'd just do it; don't mention snail breeding, just set up a little bowl with some plants and call it a water feature. The snails can arrive 'accidentally' on the plants This may go some way to explaining why I'm single

 

[**sarahp**]

I'd just do it; don't mention snail breeding, just set up a little bowl with some plants and call it a water feature. The snails can arrive 'accidentally' on the plants

I like your thinking - a nice little water feature on the coffee table would look good he'll never know!

 

[Jelly man]

I started with 3 pea puffers. Two died quite quickly. However the other has been going strong and enjoys frozen blood worm every 3 days. I only put in what I think he will take. He has a nice round belly all the time.
Hope that helps. No snails here.

 

[nigsy]

I don't have a pea puffer but green spotted puffer; diet is similar. I basically forage live food for him everyday be it snails, worms or woodlice; basically mimic anything that would fall into the water in the wild. We keep a small bag of frozen shrimp for days where I can't find anything.