Hi I Have A Freshwater Q

[xNOTLOCx]

i was wondering about the pygmy puffer would anyone know about these i wanted to put it into a 2.5 gallon tank with plants and caves, and one eel, i figured it wouldnt nip since they hide alot.... the el im not sure but i kno only gets 3 inches and is small and black... and the only things im not sure about is the filtration, i wanted somethign that wouldnt be noticible on the tank liek an air pump, with a carbon filter attatched. then i also have slat so thats no problem but how much do i add for the water since it has to be lightyl salted? and,,, ho do i cycle a freshwater tank? and what type of clean up crew could i get probably none, so just a alga scraper... thnkx

 

[dthoffsett]

Probably best to post in the Oddballs section, however from my reading, pygmy puffers (aka dwarf puffers) require 5gal per puffer. And in fact, the only fish I would recommend for a 2.5gal is a betta, or maybe a shrimp tank.

Here's a link for the Dwarf Puffer profile http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=90950

Another puffer link http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=136616

and a link for cycling freshwater http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=141944


Hope that helps, and welcome to the freshwater side.

 

[Synirr]

5 gallons is usually recommended for dwarf puffers, but I think you could get away with keeping one in 2.5 gallons with no other tankmates as long as you really keep on top of your water changes. Mine are active but don't really take a lot of swimming space, so I don't think a 2.5 gallon would be horrible for just one. For a filter, I recommend the Red Sea Nano filter; there aren't many filters made for tanks that small, and this is the best one around that's also not very noticeable.

Do not add any salt for dwarf puffers, Carinotetraodon travancoricus and Carinotetraodon irrubesco, the two species most commonly refered to as dwarf/pygmy puffers, are true freshwater species.

EDIT: Also, there are no eels that can live in freshwater that stay that small, so that would be out of the question even if the tank weren't too small for tankmates. Maybe you mean khuli loaches? They need to be kept in groups anyway, so a minimum of 10 gallons would be recommended.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

are those eels that you are refering to khuli loaches? they prefer to be in groups of 3 or more, and 3 cant go into a 2.5

 

[xNOTLOCx]

yes khuli loaches are what i emant so would they be safe with a puffer, and i guess now that i know just freshwater in a little 2.5 gallon or i might go 5, so now i just have one more question, where do i get the snails if the lfs doesnt sell them? well thnks for all your help eevytone, and how much, many, water changes are neccecary for this tank size a week with ditilled treated water? now that i have a good pump to get what heater can i get thats not huge and gigantic?

and i read the articles but iwas unlcear, can i just get the water in the tank with eveythign up and runnign then just get some gravel from the lfs and put it into the tank and let it cycle that way, or sand... how long would this take for a 2.5-3 gallon tank? if it was like 3 handfulls of gravel?

 

[xNOTLOCx]

.there i think thats all

 

[Teelie]

IMO, nothing goes with puffers but puffers, and only in a large enough, well planted, decorated and watched tank. They're best kept single species, single fish due to their aggressive attitudes.

 

[xNOTLOCx]

alright ya im getting a 3.5 gallon with lots of cools plants and a puffer, and w/e i can find thats able to cope with it like ive heard hermits can, but not too manby frehswater hermits r availabel infact r there none?, then also snails for him to eat so the teeth dont get too overgrown, but i still have those unanswered questions, thnx tho

 

[Fella]

What questions are unanswered? In the topic i wrote I would have thought I covered everything. tell me what's missing and I'll look at getting it added in.

 

[xNOTLOCx]

where do i get the snails if the lfs doesnt sell them? and how much, many, water changes are neccecary for this tank size a week, with distilled treated water? what heater can i get thats not huge and gigantic?

can i just get the water in the tank with eveythign up and runnign then just get some gravel from the lfs and put it into the tank and let it cycle that way, or sand... i know ill have plants in there wouldnt that do it for me? how long would this take for a 2.5-3 gallon tank? if it was like 3 handfulls of gravel?, or sand,
thnks for ur help

 

[Synirr]

This is a good heater for small tanks, or you can go with this model which you can get for (I think) less than $7 at Walmart. Both are decent and 7.5 watt.

You can usually get pest snails for free at the LFS, they come in with shipments of live plants. Just check their tanks for tiny snails and see if they mind you gathering some for puffer food. DPs have weak teeth so they don't need snails often though, feeding frozen mysis shrimp keep mine taken care of for the most part as the mysis have a little bit of an exoskeleton on them to wear the teeth down.

I'd do weekly 40% water changes if I were you, in a tank that small it shouldn't be a hassle and that way you can be sure your water is clean. Don't use distilled water in a freshwater aquarium, there's no need and it lacks trace elements, better to use dechlorinated tap water unless the water is particularly bad in your area.

A few handfuls of gravel from an established tank should help you cycle, yes. I'd get a test kit and monitor water stats to make sure everything is on track, the cycle time could be anything from instant to a couple of weeks depending on how much bacteria you bring in with the gravel.

 

[xNOTLOCx]

ya no hurry for me lol, this tank can take as needed , thanks alot, thats great. appreciate it, ya our water just has alot of slufer and iron in it, my grandparents is natural spring water and its very good quality our river has salmon come in it evey eyar whenever that is... hmmm im not sure ya that sounds great to me thnk you , ill post when i get it going if any of u r interested in my mini puffer tank.