Community Puffer

[LilBrick300k]

Hello all,

I know that this is a hotly debated topic, so I wanted to weigh in and give my opinions.  This is in no way concrete or universal, just MY observations from MY tank. To begin, it is widely thought that there are no community suited dwarf puffers; I have found this to be untrue.  I have a 29 gallon tank with 4 Irrubesco puffers (2m,2f), 10 ghost shrimp, 8 Kuhli loaches, 6 pygmy corydoras, and 1 honeycomb catfish.  To date, I have lost 2 of the petsmart ghost shrimp to old age (who were then subsequently eaten as a snack).  Every other fish is healthy, happy, and thriving.  The puffers mind their own business, occasionally chase each other, and watch their tankmates with vague interest.  I feed the puffers frozen bloodworms and frozen spirulina brine brine shrimp. The honeycomb catfish gets floating pellets after dark.  Everything else gets sinking food.  Occasionally, a puffer will eat at the floor with the shrimp.  I found Irrubescos to be some of the more peaceful fish i've kept, and being able to keep puffers with species that will help clean up after them works wonders.  I highly recommend keeping Irrubescos if you want to try to have a community puffer that is smaller and cheaper than a Congo Spotted and 100x less work than an Amazon. Obviously personalities will very, but I have found that time progresses, all 4 puffers are mellowing out even more, and are able to eat from the same tweezers in a group without fighting. 10/10 Recommend 

[Fish Folk]

Wow! Those are good looking puffers! I've never seen these before. The red eyes and red tail fins are very striking. Cool to learn that yours get along with various tank mates well. I read somewhere that they like sand to "wallow" in. Hope all stays peaceful in your community.

[Mattrd]

he sounds like a smart fish keeper :)

[MAC]

I also have irrubesco puffers. The male and female pair seem to happily share a 20 long with no problem aside for the occasional chase away. The male has even tried displaying to the female a few times. I've been thinking about getting a couple more and upgrading them to a 36" long 30 gallon and try them with other tank mates. 

Very cool fish with lots of personality. If you can find them I highly recommend this unique little puffer. 

[LilBrick300k]

4 hours ago, MAC said:

I also have irrubesco puffers. The male and female pair seem to happily share a 20 long with no problem aside for the occasional chase away. The male has even tried displaying to the female a few times. I've been thinking about getting a couple more and upgrading them to a 36" long 30 gallon and try them with other tank mates. 

Very cool fish with lots of personality. If you can find them I highly recommend this unique little puffer. 

Actually, Wetspot has them in stock right now! Also, if your fish will get along, I highly recommend tank mates, especially ones that will do some cleaning. They go a long way in keeping the tank healthy and cleaning up after the puffers!