Are pea puffers brackish?

[OrkyBetta]

Firstly, can a single pea puffer live in a 1 gal? I've heard they are ok in bowls and small tanks.

2. Are they brackish?

3. What do they eat?

Thanks.

 

[Pufferpunk]

They are strictly FW & require 3-5g each. That bowl isn't even large enough for a betta. Just because you have an empty bowl, doesn't mean something should have to live in it...

 

[OrkyBetta]

Sorry. I had just heard from at least 8 people that dwarf puffers could live in a one gallon. I know I do not need to fill it I was just wondering.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Um, that's 8 less people you should go to for fish advise, trust me.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Ok. thank you for the info though. I'm glad I got that straightened out though. At least I checked here first. The people I asked were very good and experianced fishkeepers, but I don't think any of them know much about puffers.

 

[SirMinion]

They were probably basing their advice based on the size of the fish without knowledge of it's actual needs.
It would seem reasonable to put a one inch fish in a small tank or bowl, but puffers are rather different in their requirements and are really not suited to anything less than a full cycled, heavily filtered, mature tank.

To answer your other questions, no they are fully freshwater and they eat small aquatic bugs.

 

[Pufferpunk]

By bugs, do you mean crustaceons?

 

[SirMinion]

By bugs, do you mean crustaceons?

Well yes, but not just crustaceans, also insect larvae like bloodworm and other microfauna such as daphnia & cyclops.

Of course many dwarfs can also be persuaded to take finely chopped earthworms, mussel, cockle & prawn as well.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Ok thank you very much. I am still interested in owning a pea puffer, and I have a small 5 gallon cycled tank that my sister recently told me I could have, that used to house 2 female bettas, would this work for a pea puffer?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Absolutely! Without the bettas, of course.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Ok, thanks. No, the females that were in the tank are now at a friends house, so that's not an issue.

 

[Pufferpunk]

If the tank has been empty >24 hours, then it isn't cycled anymore.

 

[OrkyBetta]

No, the girl bettas just left today, and my male betta is in it right now. Thanks though, didn't know 24 hours uncycled it. Glad to know.