Just curious. I've seen mixed information about several species but figured I'd ask here where I might get some people with personal experience on the matter. Does anyone know of any puffers that are either true FW or can be converted to FW? Preferrably something no more than five or six inches? All help is appreciated!
Any freshwater puffers other than dwarfs?
- Thread starter rudukai13
- Start date
There are several freshwater puffer species. The dwarf puffer is the probably the easiest to find, cheap, I think they recommend about 5g/puffer but you might be able to stretch that.
The next step up from that would probably be one of the red eye puffers (2-3" size)..carinotetraodon irrubesco being your best bet for anything community wise, although any puffer is pretty risky. Also the arrowhead or mekong puffer, they get about 5-6", freshwater, but definitely best in a species setup.
PufferPedia is a good resource, especially if you have access to rarer species:
http://www.**************.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/
Through my wholesalers, the only freshwater puffers I've ever seen have been the dwarfs, red eyes, and mekong puffers.
The next step up from that would probably be one of the red eye puffers (2-3" size)..carinotetraodon irrubesco being your best bet for anything community wise, although any puffer is pretty risky. Also the arrowhead or mekong puffer, they get about 5-6", freshwater, but definitely best in a species setup.
PufferPedia is a good resource, especially if you have access to rarer species:
http://www.**************.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/
Through my wholesalers, the only freshwater puffers I've ever seen have been the dwarfs, red eyes, and mekong puffers.
I hadn't seen the Mekong before, they look very interesting. I'm not too worried about community credentials, I'm thinking if I got any kind of puffer it'd be a single-specimen tank. I find puffers that I've seen have been entertaining enough to be the only fish in a tank and not get boring. I'd actually prefer something a little more agressive...
The Mekong/Arrowheads that I've gotten in really haven't done much. To be fair, they are chucked in a bare tank, but they pretty much just kind of sat there. None of them ate in front of me, I'd put some ghost shrimp in there and come back and they'd be gone. Personally haven't kept them so I'm not sure if they would be friendlier after a while.
The red eyes were fairly active, swam around, would swim up to the front of the tank to check you out, but they are about 1/2", if that, when they come in.
I've seen some people here with the hairy and congo puffers, maybe they will stop in (or you can search for those threads).
The red eyes were fairly active, swam around, would swim up to the front of the tank to check you out, but they are about 1/2", if that, when they come in.
I've seen some people here with the hairy and congo puffers, maybe they will stop in (or you can search for those threads).
I don't mind starting with a relatively small fish and growing it out. If I do end up getting a puffer it'll probably have to be in a relatively small tank (10-15 gallons), so I'm thinking some of the larger puffers like the mekong and congo are out, but the red eye would be just about perfect.
Here's a pic of a red eye I got in at my store...of course skinny with a spot of ich, but she was pretty cute. I love puffers too, one day I will set up a puffer tank. I've always thought you could probably keep them with other fast fish, maybe danios or something.
i have dwarf puffers with otocinlcus and kuhli loach and bumblebee goby in a 50g tank, not sure bout the redeye puffers temperment though.
Let me add my two cents since PP hasn't dropped by yet... i've personally kept C.irrubesco and dwarfs before i got my big tank and have to say i personally prefer the look of the Red eyes > the dwarfs...
As for arrowheads, although i don't own any i do however own a mating pair of Palembang Puffers, and i do agree with Jessica that they don't move much, and my tank is planted and has drfitwood... the only time i see them move is feeding time and its normally the female thats active the male just hangs out and waits for food to come to him (although again only from my personal experience)...
Congo Puffers are pretty interesting and un-usual puffers, although again they aren't really an active species so if your looking for something you can actually see moving in your tank go for one of the smaller species as lurkers aren't really for every one...
So to start out with you could try one of the smaller species first and if you really get into fish keeping you can try one of the larger species of freshwater puffers such as the Fahaka Puffer...
Oh, but to answer your question, any fish that is purposely put in an environment that is
not natural for it normally leads to a shorter lifespan of the fish and is commonly thought to actually make the fish suffer... but for more details you'd have to wait for some one with a bit more knowledge to answer...
As for arrowheads, although i don't own any i do however own a mating pair of Palembang Puffers, and i do agree with Jessica that they don't move much, and my tank is planted and has drfitwood... the only time i see them move is feeding time and its normally the female thats active the male just hangs out and waits for food to come to him (although again only from my personal experience)...
Congo Puffers are pretty interesting and un-usual puffers, although again they aren't really an active species so if your looking for something you can actually see moving in your tank go for one of the smaller species as lurkers aren't really for every one...
So to start out with you could try one of the smaller species first and if you really get into fish keeping you can try one of the larger species of freshwater puffers such as the Fahaka Puffer...
Oh, but to answer your question, any fish that is purposely put in an environment that is
not natural for it normally leads to a shorter lifespan of the fish and is commonly thought to actually make the fish suffer... but for more details you'd have to wait for some one with a bit more knowledge to answer...
I would suggest to start in a 10-15g definately dwarf puff or red eyed. It is a good starting point, gets you used to the way of the puffer and is the start of the addiction.
Going for the 6 inches would be a fairly range though mostly lurker puffs or if tempted by salty side GSP. There are of course active puffs such as the figure eights which are low end brackish that are active and one can be kept in a 15g. I have a abei puff that is freshwater and gets about 4-5 inches and I cant speak for anyone elses but he is gorgeous and active!
Going for the 6 inches would be a fairly range though mostly lurker puffs or if tempted by salty side GSP. There are of course active puffs such as the figure eights which are low end brackish that are active and one can be kept in a 15g. I have a abei puff that is freshwater and gets about 4-5 inches and I cant speak for anyone elses but he is gorgeous and active!