Puffers and Gouramis

[rwcichlid]

I have a 29 gallon tank with 2 pink kisser gouramis and 2 blue paradise gouramis (have semi-long fins). There are a few plants and some roman columns for decorations. It has a river rock bed. I was wondering if I could put a dwarf puffer in there with them. My only concern was that the puffer would chomp on the paradise's fins. If they're ok, should I get one or more? Should I change anything in the tank itself?

 

[Opcn]

Well im sorrry to say thatthe fins would be goners the long pelvic fins would be gone too. As far as puffer tanks go they should have sand substrate or a fine gravle and lots of plants and caves for them to hide in. and for snails to hide in aswell.

Sorry to burst your bubble

Opcn

 

[freshwatergal]

If I were you, and you really wanted a dwarf puff, then I would set up a species only tank. Dwarfs are cute, and when young not too nasty, but when they get older....watch out!

I have 6 of these lil guys and I love em!

Good Luck with whatever you chose...
Tiff

 

[rwcichlid]

Would they do well in a small tank, say 2 gallons if I just had one?

 

[freshwatergal]

I do believe that a single dwarf needs at least 3 gal. They are messy eaters, and due to the type of food they need, your water conditions would go downhill fast.

If you had a 10 gal tank you could go with 3-4 of these gems in there.

Good Luck & HTH

Tiff

 

[Opcn]

Yeah a 2 or 3 gallon would look realy cool but dwarfs like to explore so 5 gallon would be like absolute minimum and then It would just be one puffer and something else.

Opcn

 

[AmberC]

Well I just wanted to say that I have a 20 gallon tank with 5 lemon gouramis and 3 sunset gouramis (as well as some other fish) and one dwarf puffer and I dont have any problems. There have been a few nipped fins, but nothing bad. (I know the fins of my gouramis aren't as long as yours....) I've had the tank for 4 months set up like this. You can see pics on my site at

my site

 

[rwcichlid]

your wide-mouthed sucker looks like a rubber-lipped pleco

I may try to put a puffer in the tank after re-arranging it a bit.....But i will have an extra tank on hand, just in case!

 

[AmberC]

your wide-mouthed sucker looks like a rubber-lipped pleco

Thanks! I was hoping someone would correct me on that. I couldn't remember which one they said he was cause we were talking about quite a few at the time I bought it

 

[Lithril]

Amber keep an eye on the puffer, they can start off without any problems but tend to get a lot more grouchy with age (and they can live quite a few years), if you're keeping puffers with other fish then you definately want a back tank handy/cycled.