Another Stocking Question, sorry...

ikermalli · 11-20-2007, 05:36 AM

Okay so I said I had decided on getting
1 Bolivian Ram
5 Black Skirt Tetras
6 Cories

I was looking around this site and I saw a dwarf puffer

could I do this:

1 Dwarf Puffer
5 Skirts
6 Cories

**JustOneMore20** · 11-20-2007, 08:32 AM

That stocking won't work. Dwarf puffers are nippy towards other fish, so its best to keep them in a species tank (just them) and possibly some Otocinclus. They don't play well with others.

ikermalli · 11-20-2007, 01:50 PM

oh, alright. They're soooo cool. Would it be okay to keep my tetras somewhere else and keep two of them together in my 20 G? And probably get 5-6 Otocinclus?

p8ball4life · 11-20-2007, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikermalli

oh, alright. They're soooo cool. Would it be okay to keep my tetras somewhere else and keep two of them together in my 20 G? And probably get 5-6 Otocinclus?

I was in the same dilemma that you're in. I wanted a community tank with some puffers. If you haven't found your way over to www.dwarfpuffers.com then please do (pardon the bump for another site, but I think it's appropriate). You might fall in love with them and decide on a dp only tank with some otos!

**JustOneMore20** · 11-20-2007, 02:06 PM

As long as the tank you are putting the tetras in is 20g or larger, then its fine. They won't work in your other tanks though. You might see if the petstore/fish store will let you trade them in for some dwarf puffers.

If you can find a new home for the tetras, you could have 5-6 Dwarf puffers and 3-4 Otos in a 20g. You'll want to heavily plant the tank, either with live or fake plants so that you'll reduce aggression.

DPs usually only eat live or frozen foods, so you'll need to be sure you have the time to feed them.

ikermalli · 11-21-2007, 06:00 AM

They won't eat freeze dried? What live food could I put in other than worms? I was thinking to do around 3 dwarf puffers or is it better to do 5-6? Do they get all big and stuff when they are stressed out? My local petsmart sells black skirts so would they take my skirts?

**JustOneMore20** · 11-21-2007, 08:12 AM

No, they don't puff, or they shouldn't puff. So hopefully you don't want them for that reason.

You could call Petsmart and see. They most likely won't give you any money or credit for them, but they might just take them for free.

I haven't heard of them eating freeze dried. You could try soaking them in tank water and then feeding it though.

Here is more about feeding them: http://www.dwarfpuffers.com/care1.htm.

3 would be fine if you don't want more than that. The reason for getting more is to get a better male to female ratio. You have a better chance of getting more females when you get 5-6. Its best to keep them in ratios of 1m/2f, but it can be hard to sex them when they are really small.

ikermalli · 11-21-2007, 02:29 PM

Thank you for that! I will try to get some live snails if I do get them. Are there any other small fish I could get to put in my tank? I wanted to do my whole tank with 8 peppered cories and one betta but then I got the skirts to start my cycle. Would the 8 peppered cories and one betta work? I heard the betta might steal their food though. I also wanted to try to take care of a diffrent species though. Any suggestions?

**JustOneMore20** · 11-21-2007, 03:40 PM

Puffers will tear up a Betta's fins in a heart beat.

I haven't heard of them being kept successfully with cories. My guess is they will go after the cories' fins as well.

Personally, I'd just go with the DPs and Otos, as that is a proven successful combination.

If you want a community tank, skip the Puffers.

edited for clarity

ikermalli · 11-21-2007, 03:44 PM

yeah, I have heard. Is there any algae eater that is compatible with a betta? I am not sure if I will be able to get the DPs though, because of my problem with finding frozen/ live foods. My tank is done 3 weeks of cycling. If I go with the puffers should I add the otos or the DPs first? Also, if I keep one school of tetras and one shoal of cories would that be okay too? I wanted to make a really peaceful tank where the cories can go anywhere and get some non territorial fish. Can I put some cories in tomorrow? Any ideas of peaceful fish for my 20G?

ikermalli · 11-21-2007, 03:46 PM

double post sorry, but what about dojo loaches?

**Baby_Baby** · 11-21-2007, 03:50 PM

My dojo loaches were just fine with my betta in a 29 g, but 20 is pushing it, because they get a little big, but I think you could get away with a pair.

ikermalli · 11-21-2007, 03:53 PM

well I don't want them to live unhappily, but I remembered I saw the dojo loaches at the bottom of the tank and I know cories stay at the bottom so.... I will get a betta, a dojo loach but can I can cories?

ikermalli · 11-21-2007, 03:56 PM

sorry double post again, but what do I feed them? Also can I add them into my tank tomorrow? It has been cyling for three weeks now

**Baby_Baby** · 11-21-2007, 03:56 PM

Okay sorry if you mentioned earlier, but what is your substrate?
If its not sand, I'd hold off on the loaches, because they love to burrow into the sand, and they can get bloody/irritated whiskers from trying to get inbetween the rocks.

If I were you I'd buy your cories or bottom dwellers and put them in now, then in about a week, add your other fish that you decide on, but thats just me :]

**Baby_Baby** · 11-21-2007, 03:58 PM

If you're adding them to your tank tomorrow, I'd be sure to do some studying this evening.
Dojo loaches are omnivores and really arent too picky

Diet: Weather loaches are great vacuum cleaners, sucking up virtually anything that falls to the bottom of the tank, and spitting out what it doesn't care for. They are particularly fond of fish eggs, so keep that in mind if you are thinking of breeding egg laying fish in the same tank. In the wild their diet consists of insect larvae and small worms. However, they will also readily eat fresh vegetables. Peas are a prized delicacy, but should be skinned before being placed in the tank.

ikermalli · 11-21-2007, 04:01 PM

alright! I have some freeze dried bloodworms lol not for the loach! I see that they should be in temps around 77 degrees farenheit. I will need some frozen bloodworms and probably some sinking pellets, what about freeze dried brine shrimp? Will they also eat live foods? What live foods other than worms will they eat? Would I be able to keep just one in my 20G by the way it has soft substrate, that is good right? And I can keep a betta in there? But what about bottom feeders?

**Baby_Baby** · 11-21-2007, 04:03 PM

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/...her_Loach.html

Let me know if this helps you out at all

ikermalli · 11-21-2007, 04:11 PM

thank you! That helped me quite a bit! I have one hiding spot that none of my fish use, I have sand as my substrate, I have a peice of driftwood with a place under it that is dark

That should be good right? What kind of sinking pellets should I get? How long can I keep frozen bloodworms? That site doesn't say anything about freeze dried stuff, would freeze dried brine shrimp be okay? it says brine shrimp but not frozen or freeze dried so I am guessing live? I saw some mealies, do they like those? is 15.99 a bad price for a loach?

**Baby_Baby** · 11-21-2007, 04:15 PM

I got my dojos for about 4.99 a piece.
Your tank sounds like a loach wonderland

They'll love it.

As far as sinking pellets, I am not entirely sure, however freeze dried foods will be fine however they do love live food.

11-20-2007, 05:36 AM	#1
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	Another Stocking Question, sorry... Okay so I said I had decided on getting 1 Bolivian Ram 5 Black Skirt Tetras 6 Cories I was looking around this site and I saw a dwarf puffer could I do this: 1 Dwarf Puffer 5 Skirts 6 Cories __________________ Take a look at my site http://aquariumexpertise.freeforums.org/

11-20-2007, 08:32 AM	#2
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,592	That stocking won't work. Dwarf puffers are nippy towards other fish, so its best to keep them in a species tank (just them) and possibly some Otocinclus. They don't play well with others. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g

11-20-2007, 01:50 PM	#3
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	oh, alright. They're soooo cool. Would it be okay to keep my tetras somewhere else and keep two of them together in my 20 G? And probably get 5-6 Otocinclus? __________________ Take a look at my site http://aquariumexpertise.freeforums.org/

11-20-2007, 02:06 PM	#5
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,592	As long as the tank you are putting the tetras in is 20g or larger, then its fine. They won't work in your other tanks though. You might see if the petstore/fish store will let you trade them in for some dwarf puffers. If you can find a new home for the tetras, you could have 5-6 Dwarf puffers and 3-4 Otos in a 20g. You'll want to heavily plant the tank, either with live or fake plants so that you'll reduce aggression. DPs usually only eat live or frozen foods, so you'll need to be sure you have the time to feed them. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g

11-21-2007, 06:00 AM	#6
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	They won't eat freeze dried? What live food could I put in other than worms? I was thinking to do around 3 dwarf puffers or is it better to do 5-6? Do they get all big and stuff when they are stressed out? My local petsmart sells black skirts so would they take my skirts? __________________ Take a look at my site http://aquariumexpertise.freeforums.org/

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11-21-2007, 08:12 AM	#7
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,592	No, they don't puff, or they shouldn't puff. So hopefully you don't want them for that reason. You could call Petsmart and see. They most likely won't give you any money or credit for them, but they might just take them for free. I haven't heard of them eating freeze dried. You could try soaking them in tank water and then feeding it though. Here is more about feeding them: http://www.dwarfpuffers.com/care1.htm. 3 would be fine if you don't want more than that. The reason for getting more is to get a better male to female ratio. You have a better chance of getting more females when you get 5-6. Its best to keep them in ratios of 1m/2f, but it can be hard to sex them when they are really small. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g Last edited by JustOneMore20; 11-21-2007 at 08:16 AM.

11-21-2007, 02:29 PM	#8
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	Thank you for that! I will try to get some live snails if I do get them. Are there any other small fish I could get to put in my tank? I wanted to do my whole tank with 8 peppered cories and one betta but then I got the skirts to start my cycle. Would the 8 peppered cories and one betta work? I heard the betta might steal their food though. I also wanted to try to take care of a diffrent species though. Any suggestions? __________________ Take a look at my site http://aquariumexpertise.freeforums.org/

11-21-2007, 03:40 PM	#9
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,592	Puffers will tear up a Betta's fins in a heart beat. I haven't heard of them being kept successfully with cories. My guess is they will go after the cories' fins as well. Personally, I'd just go with the DPs and Otos, as that is a proven successful combination. If you want a community tank, skip the Puffers. edited for clarity __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g Last edited by JustOneMore20; 11-21-2007 at 05:17 PM.

11-21-2007, 03:44 PM	#10
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	yeah, I have heard. Is there any algae eater that is compatible with a betta? I am not sure if I will be able to get the DPs though, because of my problem with finding frozen/ live foods. My tank is done 3 weeks of cycling. If I go with the puffers should I add the otos or the DPs first? Also, if I keep one school of tetras and one shoal of cories would that be okay too? I wanted to make a really peaceful tank where the cories can go anywhere and get some non territorial fish. Can I put some cories in tomorrow? Any ideas of peaceful fish for my 20G? __________________ Take a look at my site http://aquariumexpertise.freeforums.org/

11-21-2007, 03:46 PM	#11
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	double post sorry, but what about dojo loaches? __________________ Take a look at my site http://aquariumexpertise.freeforums.org/

11-21-2007, 03:50 PM	#12
Baby_Baby Friendly Neighborhood Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,685	My dojo loaches were just fine with my betta in a 29 g, but 20 is pushing it, because they get a little big, but I think you could get away with a pair. __________________ *Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?*

11-21-2007, 03:53 PM	#13
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	well I don't want them to live unhappily, but I remembered I saw the dojo loaches at the bottom of the tank and I know cories stay at the bottom so.... I will get a betta, a dojo loach but can I can cories? __________________ Take a look at my site http://aquariumexpertise.freeforums.org/

11-21-2007, 03:56 PM	#14
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	sorry double post again, but what do I feed them? Also can I add them into my tank tomorrow? It has been cyling for three weeks now __________________ Take a look at my site http://aquariumexpertise.freeforums.org/

11-21-2007, 03:58 PM	#16
Baby_Baby Friendly Neighborhood Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,685	If you're adding them to your tank tomorrow, I'd be sure to do some studying this evening. Dojo loaches are omnivores and really arent too picky Diet: Weather loaches are great vacuum cleaners, sucking up virtually anything that falls to the bottom of the tank, and spitting out what it doesn't care for. They are particularly fond of fish eggs, so keep that in mind if you are thinking of breeding egg laying fish in the same tank. In the wild their diet consists of insect larvae and small worms. However, they will also readily eat fresh vegetables. Peas are a prized delicacy, but should be skinned before being placed in the tank. __________________ *Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?*

11-21-2007, 04:01 PM	#17
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	alright! I have some freeze dried bloodworms lol not for the loach! I see that they should be in temps around 77 degrees farenheit. I will need some frozen bloodworms and probably some sinking pellets, what about freeze dried brine shrimp? Will they also eat live foods? What live foods other than worms will they eat? Would I be able to keep just one in my 20G by the way it has soft substrate, that is good right? And I can keep a betta in there? But what about bottom feeders? __________________ Take a look at my site http://aquariumexpertise.freeforums.org/ Last edited by ikermalli; 11-21-2007 at 04:03 PM.

11-21-2007, 04:03 PM	#18
Baby_Baby Friendly Neighborhood Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,685	http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/...her_Loach.html Let me know if this helps you out at all __________________ *Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?*

11-21-2007, 04:11 PM	#19
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	thank you! That helped me quite a bit! I have one hiding spot that none of my fish use, I have sand as my substrate, I have a peice of driftwood with a place under it that is dark That should be good right? What kind of sinking pellets should I get? How long can I keep frozen bloodworms? That site doesn't say anything about freeze dried stuff, would freeze dried brine shrimp be okay? it says brine shrimp but not frozen or freeze dried so I am guessing live? I saw some mealies, do they like those? is 15.99 a bad price for a loach? __________________ Take a look at my site http://aquariumexpertise.freeforums.org/

11-21-2007, 04:15 PM	#20
Baby_Baby Friendly Neighborhood Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,685	I got my dojos for about 4.99 a piece. Your tank sounds like a loach wonderland They'll love it. As far as sinking pellets, I am not entirely sure, however freeze dried foods will be fine however they do love live food. __________________ *Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?*

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