Dwarf Puffer Fish?

Question

So I am thinking about getting a dwarf puffer fish, ooo they r soo cute!!! I want to give it good care but I need to know more about them. Are they salt water of fresh water? Tank size? Community or not? Any info is much apperciated. Thanks.

I would prefer to just get one is that ok?

Also do they really puff up when they get scared like the big ones?

Answer 1

They are freshwater fish. A tank of at least 5 gallons is needed for one, although 10 is better. The tank should be planted, with a sand substrate and cycled before you add the puffer - they're very sensitive to having ammonia or nitrite in their water. They're definitely NOT community fish - they should only be kept with others of their own species, and only one male to a tank.

See these links for more info:
http://www.dwarfpuffers.com/
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/C_Travancoricus/
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/

Thanks for researching before you get the fish - it will appreciate your effort!


ADDITION: Keeping just one is fine.

They do puff up, but this isn't something that should be encouraged. Puffing is stressful for the fish, and if they inhale air, they may not be able to expell it and die. They should even be moved by capturing them in a cup rather than a net when they're to ne transferred.

Answer 2

Dwarf Puffers are extremely time consuming and expensive to care for because they only eat frozen food and live food (some times they only eat live food). They are about as far from a community fish as you can get. Though they stay about an inch long, they have a sharp beak they can (and will) tear through any other fish. They are 100% freshwater fish and will die in brackish water (aquarium salt is different than brackish salt). Puffers should be kept in a tank with only Puffers of the same species. Until you are an experienced fish keeper, I would caution against Puffers. Nosoop4u

Answer 3

Dwarf puffers are freshwater fish, not salt or brackish. They can survive with their own species but are generally quite aggressive towards others, and even peace between their own kind is not guaranteed. A 5 gallon tank is a minimum for a dwarf puffer.

I've not had much experience with these fish myself, but you can read a care sheet here:

http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/dwarf_puffers.html

Answer 4

Puffers are generally considered brackish fish. Meaning they require a higher salt level than a regular fresh water tank. They are not community fish at all. Many puffers are very aggresive. You should ask your local pet store owner if they are knowledgable. Keep in mind the smaller the tank the harder it is to regulate it.

Answer 5

Okay, here's the thing about puffers. They are brackish water fish (in between fresh and salt water), they are semi-aggressive since they are really bad fin nippers, and they aren't that hardy of a fish. Yes, they CAN live in freshwater, but it's best to keep them in brackish, for they will be healthier and live longer in it.

Answer 6

They school, I do believe. I'd have at least 2 or 3. They are not really community fish, but they are so darn tiny they can easily live with others. I have a bunch of guppies (constant babies) and the 3 mini-puffers I have live with them just fine.

Oh, they hide a lot, too. So if you have only one you'll never see the lil guy.

Answer 7

i had one, from what i was told they are salt water, but slowly weened off salt water to fresh water from multiple water changes with less salt. could be b/s, i dunno. they are a good community fish, i had them in a tank of cichlids and it did really well. it was a 55 gallon tank but ive seen them in as small as a 10 gallon tank.