Yes, they puff, but usually only when afraid. So trying to make them puff essentially comes down to terrifying your pet -- obviously not something you want to do! Occasionally puffers will puff for no reason, perhaps to exercise the relevant muscles. Keep your eyes peeled and you might get lucky...
Maximum size in captivity is typically around 7 cm. Allow a good 20 gallons or so for the first specimen, and then another 10 gallons for each additional specimen. They aren't especially aggressive or territorial, but with puffers, it's a good idea to err on the side of caution. If you want a truly social species, South American puffers are far better because they are naturally gregarious and enjoy being kept in groups.
Cheers, Neale