Puffer or Cool oddball for a 20 long?

[linuxrulesusa]

I'm looking at getting a puffer or another cool oddball for a 20 long.

If I go the puffer route, what is a good one that won't outgrow the tank?

I'm OK with brackish.

Also diet is a consideration - I think I'd like one of the ambush predator puffers more than the active hunters, because then I can keep the food in the tank (e.g. ghost shrimp, snails, etc) and hopefully make things happen in one tank instead of a separate snail growout tank.

Also open to other cool oddballs.  I've considered one or more African butterfly fish (the one that hangs on top of the water, not the cichlid), since both my previous attempts with them haven't worked with tankmates.  But they can be finicky to feed (either needing live foods like crickets or live feeder fish, which I'd prefer to avoid).

Open to other options as well.

Thoughts, everyone?

[Regalblue]

Tetraodon Baileyi

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

Is that the hairy puffer? I saw one at fins the other day, those look very unique and I think they only get about 5 inches or so. If  I'm thinking of the right one.

[linuxrulesusa]

Is that the hairy puffer? I saw one at fins the other day, those look very unique and I think they only get about 5 inches or so. If  I'm thinking of the right one.

Yes, it is.

I'm leaning currently toward pea puffers - get 5-6 in a 20 long with some plants and maybe some otos?  Will have to check on that last part.

The other one I'd like to get is a congo puffer, but if it will be hiding in the sand all day...I'm not sure if I'd get tired of it or not.  I like the little green/brown/yellow puffers that are more active.  Maybe I'll try both at various points.

[African cichlid Keeper]

You could do a Red Eye Red Belly Puffer


http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/

[LoveTheFishies]

You could do a Red Eye Red Belly Puffer


http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/

That is cool looking.

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

I've kept pea puffers they are active little things and were very mild in the community tank I was keeping. They're very cool and fun to watch. Probably no long finned tank mates though.

[linuxrulesusa]

I agree the Red Eye puffers are neat looking.

This is part of why I'm leaning toward pea puffers. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o1fw9jtRNc

[linuxrulesusa]

I've kept pea puffers they are active little things and were very mild in the community tank I was keeping. They're very cool and fun to watch. Probably no long finned tank mates though.

Good to know.  Did you try anything like otocinclus, or what tankmates worked with the puffers?  I'm not a huge fan of long-finned fish (other than angels, and they'll stay in my 85g). 

My last attempt with otocinclus didn't end well but I think I'll have to do large water changes anyway to keep the puffers healthy so I thought I might try otos again for algae control, and maybe they'll do better with more regular water changes and low stocking in the tank. 

[African cichlid Keeper]

I've kept pea puffers they are active little things and were very mild in the community tank I was keeping. They're very cool and fun to watch. Probably no long finned tank mates though.

Good to know.  Did you try anything like otocinclus, or what tankmates worked with the puffers?  I'm not a huge fan of long-finned fish (other than angels, and they'll stay in my 85g). 

My last attempt with otocinclus didn't end well but I think I'll have to do large water changes anyway to keep the puffers healthy so I thought I might try otos again for algae control, and maybe they'll do better with more regular water changes and low stocking in the tank.

I found this on here "Young dps get along with everyone until they become mature enough to want to mate."
http://dwarfpuffers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=7646

[linuxrulesusa]

I've kept pea puffers they are active little things and were very mild in the community tank I was keeping. They're very cool and fun to watch. Probably no long finned tank mates though.

Good to know.  Did you try anything like otocinclus, or what tankmates worked with the puffers?  I'm not a huge fan of long-finned fish (other than angels, and they'll stay in my 85g). 

My last attempt with otocinclus didn't end well but I think I'll have to do large water changes anyway to keep the puffers healthy so I thought I might try otos again for algae control, and maybe they'll do better with more regular water changes and low stocking in the tank.

I found this on here "Young dps get along with everyone until they become mature enough to want to mate."
http://dwarfpuffers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=7646

Helpful article.  I will monitor.  At most I'll try a few otos with them and if that fails the otos can go into the angelfish tank.

[Regalblue]

Looks like you made your decision,  But Congos are cool too.

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

I had mine with all kinds of community fish and they were fine. I had rummy nose and cardinal tetras, dalmation molly even some syno cats for a little while. They got a bit nippy at my long fin danios but even my gold sail fin molly was good with them. Mine were very laid back with other tank mates but I don't know if that's just the group I had or what but my overall impression of pea puffers is chill little bastards that buzz around all over.

[linuxrulesusa]

Previous layout of the tank (with nannacara anomala/endler guppies):



New layout right after filling:



New layout today after things settled, with 2 otocinclus (for algae control):

[four_by_ken]

Why the low water level?