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Dwarf puffers tank layout

28K views 307 replies 11 participants last post by  Chesh 
#1 ·
Ok so went into the lfs today and asked then to order me some of these lil beauties, will be a few weeks though which is really good actuakkynas gives me a chance to get their tank properly 'furnished' before their arrival. They will be in the tank attached below.

This tank is fully established, but I want to scrap it and start afresh. The substrate I think should be changed for play sand and then plants in there won't be used, they will all be new ones depending upon suggestions etc. Tank size is 24 x 12 x 12.

Know they need a planted tank with different areas to break up line of sight and establish territories etc. What else do they need though? Is caves a necessity? Tank has wood which you can see but if there is a better layout am happy to get new in to suit it better.

Any suggestions and even better pictures of established puffer tanks would be greatly appreciated!

Nile
 

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#135 ·
Haha Jen it's a live one :) they definitely are Not interested in the frozen after seeing how they demolished the live ones! Think maybe they had a few too many, but that will hopefully be a one off as I learn more how to.feed them.
And he DID slurp in down like spaghetti! There's no chewing etc!!!! I'll try and vid it soon.... just wanted to get you guys a pic of them eating!
It's so cute now too... they chilling on leaves etc and 2 of them are under the twisted wood together.... its so small under there!


At 5 jes, you might as well have 6! :-D
 
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#137 ·
ok, I must be blind as a bat or you are pulling our legs that Squee is in that pic. If he is there, please someone tell me where to look.

Also, one we get the 75 done, I am going to have me a puffer after this. I have been in love with them for years. Only difference is I want only one that will get big, like a Green Spotted Puffer. A lone eventual 8" puffer sounds like a perfect addition to the family.
 
#139 ·
Hes in the centre. Not sure you can see his eye....just a part of his body.

What do people think about adding 2 cherry shrimp into the tank?
I think the puffers won't eat them- but they would eat the fry if there ever was any and obv keeps the tank clean.
Opinions please!!!!!
 
#142 ·
This is an idea I have been wanting to do for awhile now but been waiting for my Java Moss to grow more. The Java Moss will serve as a hiding shelter for the shrimp and for some babies. This way the puffers don't wipe out the whole colony. It creates a balance.
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#141 ·
I've actually had an idea bouncing around in my head the last few days about constant food sources for them...I've been wondering if it would be possible, in a big enough tank, to construct a mesh box (about 5 inches all the way around) in the back corner for snails. The sides would have to be covered in moss to keep puffers from picking at them, but the top uncovered so they could get light. The mesh would keep adults from escaping, but babys could get through and the puffers could have at them.

Just a thought, idk if it would work or not but it's been bouncing around my head. :p
 
#143 ·
The issue i see with this jen, is that puffers don't have a 'stop' if 5000 babies came out in one day, they'd eat them all...... Plus, i'll throw up a picture in a minute.....i have LITERALLY just set up the snail tank.......
OOH, and i just won another 24 12 12 on ebay.......for $5. i cheekily bid.......no one bettered me.......SO....grow out tank for puffer babies in the future!!!!

This is an idea I have been wanting to do for awhile now but been waiting for my Java Moss to grow more. The Java Moss will serve as a hiding shelter for the shrimp and for some babies. This way the puffers don't wipe out the whole colony. It creates a balance.
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well i bought quite a bit of moss......and as you know, even without much growth the tank is very well planted.(IMO)

I've chanced it and just added 2........the puffers were INTRIGUED to say the least...... i took videos.......but dont wanna post as im ashamed at the mess my wood has made of my sand and i've not cleaned it yet! Theres also some poo there now too! messy puffers!
Puffers and shrimp are about equal in size......they surrounded one....but havent eaten it...and seems the shrimp can hide if they want to as well.....though now they keep swimming past the puffers and teasing them!
 
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#144 ·
The adult shrimp should be fine but the babies and juveniles may not be. Though this only if the puffers realize they are food. So I guess in theory if you fees the puffers enough where they are not looking for food constantly then they may not see the shrimp as food. Yeah from your pics you probably have enough moss now.

LoL I they are very messy fish!
 
#145 ·
THIS would be the plan.......i do Not want 4000 shrimp in the tank........IF the shrimp do breed, i would consider the fry a food source and nothing but. A treat if you will.
 
#147 ·
Loving little things about them that are starting to come through now personality wise.
After eating wise I have 2 who have their spots to go to.
One goes and chills in amongst a beckettii plant. The other goes under the twisted wood.
The second ones pic you can just see th silhouette as didn't want to use flash.
They have done this after all feedings so far.
 

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#148 ·
Heehe! They're so sweet. . . claiming their teensy tinsy territories :) It seems like they're doing REALLY well! So thrilled to hear that they're really settling in amazingly well, and are doing great with eating. The feeding issue seems to stump a lot of people - picky little Puffers! I hope they don't eat your grown-up shrimp, or ALL of the babies (if/when there are some). I can't wait to see how this tank grows and gels in the future. VERY curious to watch how the five do together as they become comfortable and reach maturity. Hope it stays very happy and peaceful like it is now!
 
#149 ·
So do I jes!
That was a little of the reason I started putting cheeky bids on tanks on eBay too. If there is a problem now I can literally just whip them out and into another 24 12 12 tank. And for $5.....ha! Bargain!!!!
And I'm glad the feeding has gone well too! Tomorrow I might try them on the daphnia I have as well and see if they take to it. Be a bit of trial and error to see how much they can eat etc. It's so cute how their bellied instantly round!!!!

Oooh... I can post another pic now. Of the snail tank..I've also ordered 2 large pond snails I'll get next week - only one shop locally breeds them through the winter here! Stripped down an lfs tank today and took all there snails out. Well, quite a few anyway!
Funny thing on the pic below. See th led reflection in the tank.... they were the leds I tried and failed, as expected really, on the tank. They are now where they belong...... under my kitchen cabinets! Haha
 

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#152 ·
It s crazy! Even worse that that snail tank cost me 15!!!! It's a "first tank" tank though.... came with the tiniest little filter. Looks like a fluval 0.5 internal its that small. Haha.

And yeah iv got a bag of the live daphnia. Why you jealous???

Oh, and I asked Sophie about squee..it's a no. Lol. She is the cutest little thing and a proper kid at times.... but she was like .....what? That's a noise not a name!!! Hahahahahahahaha!
She wants to name one Flo though....which is the one who doesn't like it's reflection and also likes to play in the filter outlet!
 
#154 ·
Yes I'm jealous! None of my local LFS sell live food, just frozen, which sucks if I'm going to start a culture.

...I'm still gonna call it Squee, in my brain..muahahaha.

So, speaking of live food, Drs. Foster & Smith sells this thing that is supposed to keep up a supply of live brine shrimp slowly releasing into the tank, says it can be used for both salt and fresh water. I wonder if you could modify something like that for daphnia/some type of worm?
 
#155 ·
Here's a pic of the tiny filter I got free with the starter tank. I just pulled it in half too to see what was in it media wise. 2 squares of black foam. Haha. Might throw some wool in it and use it on my 55.....:roll:

Has no purpose either as snails better off in dirty water....

Oooh question.... would the elodea survive without any proper lighting on it. As in house lights? I have the old 9w bulb I would have to figure out how to rig to the tank...but I'd do it, but if it doesn't need it would be happier.....
 

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#156 ·
Haha Jen why you trying to make me automate the feeding?!?!?! You know what I did tonight.... third feed..... rather than adding them to the tank.....using the pipette I managed to 'hand feed' them! This is so much better! I might even try PROPER hand feeding them soon!!!
 
#158 · (Edited)
I love to hand feed my fish! Your Puffs seem really to be settling in well, I'm sure they'll take very nicely to being hand fed in a short time at this rate - though the thought of hand-feeding live worms is . . . kind of. . . creepy to me - though I do it with dead ones all the time, lol!

And "squee," is not just a sound! It's a proper word that was formed fromed by the happy union between the words "squeal" and "glee" AND it's a VERB, To Squee is to become so overexcited about something that. . . squeeing . . . happens. So there. Plus? It's a name now, too. Say what you will, one of them will always be Squee to me! I think it's selfish that you have FIVE Puffers, and me and Jen have NONE, and you won't share not even a single name with us. *sulks* I like Flo too, though :)

*blegh* was for the snailfarm. I'm not a big fan of pond snails, though I AM a HUGE fan of almost every other type of snail - you know, the types that aren't hitchhikers!
 
#159 ·
aww, mini and cute filter!
Snails do like to have clean water, and anyway, what damage would that filter do (beside your bills)? :lol:
Lol, just call one squee... your killing us :p
 
#160 ·
No unfortunately they don't all com front and centre yet.... trying to get them too but at the same time I like dropping a few randomly for them. They stalk their prey :)

Haha Jes did you crack out the urban dictionary for that one?!?

And it doesn't matter JJ they are going to go with squee anyway!!!! Probably for all 5 of them!!!! Haha

Wondering if the shrimp will have survived the night.....
 
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#161 · (Edited)
Haha this is my $5 BARGAIN!
Despite not saying anything in the description it included a filter of value triple/quadruple what i paid for the tank (fluval U1)......AND working 15w T8 light! And its water tight......
Though you'll have to ignore th HORRIBLE gravel and DISGUSTING fake decs....they have NO place in my tanks. EVER!
Not sure what you can grow under a 15w T8, but meh...... i can always put another LED one like my puffer tank in it as they are amazingly cheap for what they are too!
Win win!!!
 

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