Question About Dwarf Puffers

[dwarfpuffernapolean]

So last weekend I purchased my first Dwarf Puffer from the usual local pet store I get all my fish from. He was in a community tank with Fancy Guppies and Molly's and I asked the clerk if there was anything in particular I needed to know about the little guy. I already knew he was semi-agg. and the clerk told me there was nothing important or different about them. Well, shame on my for making an impulse buy and believing the clerk!! After one of my guppies turned up with some shortened fins I starting googling these little guys. I had no idea they didn't eat flakes!! So not only was he hungry, but one of these guppies was suffering for my lack of knowledge. I have now separated him and fed him some Tubifex Worms, but I mainly need to know about their necessity of filtration. I've got him by himself for the time being, with no filter. How long can he remain without one? I'd like to hold of before I put him back in until after he's had a few meals. Does anyone know about these guys? Can you make some suggestions? I'd appreciate any help you can pass along! Thanks in advance!!

 

[sylvia]

You should check the oddballs section but, basicaly, your puffer needs his filter. Despite their small size, they produce a ridiculous amount of waste and are also very sensitive to water quality. On the up side, all you need is a 5 gallon with a filter and heater to keep one - so it's not an expensive fish or one that's difficult to acommodate.

edit: I see you're new to the forum (so welcome!)... Are you aware of cycling? You'll need to cycle any tank before adding the dwarf puffer. I have several links in my signature that may be of use to you. Also search this section for 'tank cloning' to see how you can further speed up a fishless cycle - which is what you'll need to do for a sensitive puffer.

 

[Erised]

Try looking up some threads in the oddball section, there's loads of info on these guys around here.
Unfortunatly, dwarf puffers are messy fish (messy eaters mostly) and do require filtration. Personally I'd say it's best to get a filter in there right away, and not wait a couple of days.

Also, they are Not community fish. It's most likely that even when he is well fed, he'll still attack your other fish, and in time might even kill them. People often try to keep them with other fish, and it might work out ok for months and sometimes years at a time, but 9 out of the 10 times even after such a long time, they person ends up with a very fat dwarf puffer being the only fish alive in the tank.

If you could get him a filtered 5G tank, that would be perfect for him.

Also, feeding wise, it's best to give him a diet of various meaty foods, bloodworms being the main meal.

Fish Index - Dwarf Puffer

 

[dwarfpuffernapolean]

Thank you so much for your help! I was afraid he's need some sort of filtration. I will certainly get him his own little set up. It kills me to think he may be lonely, but I can't stand the thought of him "torturing" my other fish! I'm definitely going to check out the odd ball section, thank you for the tips!! And I'll check into cycling as well. I want to do what's best for them, and if that means he's got to have his own tank, he'll have one. Boy, he'll sure think he's one spoiled little guy, going from that community tank at the store, and to my comm. tank, to his own little house. I am aware that they need plants and that they like meaty stuff. I rushed out once I realized he needed something to eat besides the flakes, but they were out of brine shrimp and blood worms. They get a shipment on Tues., so I'll go back get some different stuff for him. I appreciate your help and suggestions!! I've had fish for years, but this was my first puffer. I'm really tempted to go back to the store where I purchased him and inform them about the Puffer. They should remove them from the tanks with the guppies, I suppose, before they start losing fins, too. That just upsets me, you'd like they'd be educated on what they sell... but apparently not.

I'll keep you updated on Napolean (the Puffer's) status. I'll get his little house set up properly and let you know how he's faired. Thanks again! I'm off to check out the oddball section.

 

[Synirr]

I'm really tempted to go back to the store where I purchased him and inform them about the Puffer.

Excellent idea
When you get the puffer a filter, cut a bit of the filter media out of the filter for your other tank and put it in the new filter. This will seed the cycle

 

[dwarfpuffernapolean]

I'm really tempted to go back to the store where I purchased him and inform them about the Puffer.

Excellent idea
When you get the puffer a filter, cut a bit of the filter media out of the filter for your other tank and put it in the new filter. This will seed the cycle

Thank you! That's a good bit of advice. I'll definitely do that. He seems to be okay by himself, I just feel guilty because he's all alone. But he's very active, swimming along, watching us and the critters. He seems like a happy little guy!