Dwarf Puffer Home

[WolfaraRose]

Okay I think I have everything figured out, but I would love more opinions. The Stock should be fine, esp from what I have researched, and I will be on top of finding females and plenty of hiding spaces, and etc. 

My Questions are at the bottom of this post. 


Stock
4x Dwarf Puffers (1m 3f)

Equipment

Filter- 10-30i Tetra Whisper Filter
Heater- Marineland Visi-Therm 15 Gallon Heater
Air pump + Accessories- Tetra Whisper Air Pump 10+ Airline Tubing+Check Valve+ 1 Marineland LED Moonlight Blue Bubble Wand
Substrate- White Gravel
Hood- Aqueon 20" Versatop + 20" Fluorescent Strip Light + 18" Life-Glo 2 Fluorescent Light Bulb
Ferts-Seachem Flourish, API CO2 Booster
Cleaning Equipment- 5" Mini Lee's Ultra-vac + Small Glass Only Mag-Float Algae Scraper + Aquatic Gardener + 5 Gallon Bucket
Supplements- Seachem Garlic Guard 
Water Conditioner- Seachem Prime
Thermometers- In Tank Thermometer +Sticky Outside Glass Thermometer
Food- Frozen Bloodworm, Live Snails on Occasion, Freeze Dried Daphnia
Net- 2" Penn Plax Infra Red Quick Net

Plants
Floating
 

• 6 Salvinia
• 1 Red Blue Water Lily

​Background
 

• 1 Dwarf Ambulia
• 2 Compact Aponogeton
• 3 Dwarf Vallisneria
• 1 Tiger Lotus
• 3 Bamboo

Midground
 

• 1 Crypt Wendtii
• 1 Aponogeton Crispus
• 2 http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/aquarium-plant-profiles/114909-java-fern.html%C2 Rocks
• 2 Becketts Crypt
• 1 Bamboo
• 1 Dwarf Vallisneria

Foreground
 

• 4 Dwarf Baby Tears on Rocks
• 2 Crypt Willisii

Decorations
Medium Root Stump 



2 pack and 3 pack Cichlid Stones 


1 Bridge



1 Random ruin



Suggestions welcome! 


Here are my questions

 

1. Do I need to cut back the plant list, and if so how many should it be for each plant? These are all part of the Dwarf Puffers natural surroundings, and the ones I liked outta the list...save for the bamboo.
2. Any more general equipment that I missed?
3. What should my WC % be per week, taking into consideration the plants?
4. Should I add any more different ferts, and if not, are the ones listed acceptable?
5. The decorations, too many or would it be okay?
6. Should I add a Proper PH Buffer 6.5, or will my Ph of 7 be adequate?
7. ​Is my lighting sufficient?
8. ​Is there anything else I have missed?
9. How should I arrange Everything as well?

​​


My Opinions. 
I think the stock list is acceptable, and I think I would only have to perform 10% WC's once every two weeks. I like the ornaments I have picked out, so please don't tell me to try something else, because it is my tank, and I like the ornaments. I would love it if someone could point out some names for the future dwarf puffers as well, but remember to keep them linked. I prefer Gaelic origin names, but if you have some Harry Potter Names, just make sure there is one for each of the puffers. I'm OCD so it is a bit of a big thing. 

 Thanks in advance as well, and give me your honest opinion! Thanks All!!!

 

[EllieJellyEllie]

First of all, dwarf puffers are very territorial, so you want tall plants scattered EVERYWHERE, especially at the front. My puffer ratio would be 1m<2-3fm to avoid agression. 20% water change every week, and your pH is fine. What size tank? Make sure the heater is adjustable, btw

 

[attibones]

Sounds like a 10 gallon tank, yeah? I would only get two females and one male, but if you are set on having three ladies, have a spare tank ready. You'll also want to vacuum fairly frequently. They poop a lot.

Go with a dark substrate. They like the water to be shady and they don't appreciate it when light reflects off light gravel.

You'll need to feed at least two live snails per puffer every day. This should be their staple. Feed the other foods on occasion. You'll want the snails in a grow out tank so you can monitor the amount of snails consumed in a day. I once put in twenty at a time and they were all eaten by the end of the second day (this was with only two puffs). Also, they will not accept prepared foods, and free-dried daphnia are terrible for fish really. You'll need frozen. However, your puffs may find them too small. Mine refused daphnia and brine shrimp, but enjoyed blood worms.

You'll need plenty of caves. Lots of tall plants. I wouldn't even bother with any "foreground" plants. You'll also not want to get the bamboo. It isn't aquatic and will foul the tank. You said you don't care to hear our opinions on decorations, but clay pots and PVC pipes are the best hiding spots for puffers. You'll need at least two or three caves per individual puffer. Your bridges and such aren't going to provide the necessary individualized hiding spots this species needs. If you have a proven pair, you don't need as many (I had a tightly bonded pair who never went any where without the other, but this is a rare case). Because you are doing a harem, you'll need plenty of caves.