Dwarf (pea) Puffer

[sfasu]

How is yalls experience with them and other fish? I have a snail infestation. I usually take care of them with loaches, but I have some plecos I dont want disturbed so no other bottom dwellers. I was thinking of picking up a pair to see what they can do.

Plecos are #1 concern though. The tank is about 9 gallons, and planted.

Thanks!

[troy tucker]

I have pea puffers in my 40g planted hex with a breeding pair of long fin albino bristle nose plecos. They are still to small to eat larger pond snails but will try. With 3 in the tank we almost never see them. I still remove larger snails with a Vacuum every water change.

[troy tucker]

What type Pleco do you have?

[sfasu]

L046 Zebras

And thanks for the input

[troy tucker]

No prob..
L46's, I see why you want to be careful.

[troy tucker]

Would love to see pictures.

[sfasu]

Here is one of them (I have 4 total). They are a pain to get pics of. As soon as I get close to the tank they hide in their caves.

[sfasu]

Found another. Cell pics, thats why the resolution isnt great. Also, my Blue Phantom in the same tank. Its an algae destroyer!

[troy tucker]

The L 46 are very cool. they have been on my wish list for years. thanks for sharing.

[morpheus]

awesome pics....i agree and can see why you are cautious. i dont have my dwarf puffers with another species. i read hit and miss reviews about mixing them with other fish, and ultimately decided on a species only tank. only other thing in there are a few amano shrimp for cleanup. i just scrape the glass whenever it gets algae

you can try assassin snails to clean up the pests. will take some time for the assassins to build their numbers, but eventually will get the job done.

other options usually thrown out there are vac them out or snail traps (empty them daily)

[sfasu]

Troy - Me too. Zebras and true Altums are my 2 favorite fish. Need to wait for a bigger tank for the Altums though.

morpheus - Yeah, I need to think a bit on everything. The more I read the more conflicting opinions I get. I dont gravel vac bc there are plants basically everywhere and the wood gets in the way. Ill start scooping them out with a net and see how that does. Ive thrown assassins in there a few times. Im at about 5 or 6.

[ptran]

awesome pics....i agree and can see why you are cautious. i dont have my dwarf puffers with another species. i read hit and miss reviews about mixing them with other fish, and ultimately decided on a species only tank. only other thing in there are a few amano shrimp for cleanup. i just scrape the glass whenever it gets algae

you can try assassin snails to clean up the pests. will take some time for the assassins to build their numbers, but eventually will get the job done.

other options usually thrown out there are vac them out or snail traps (empty them daily)

Where can I find some assassin snails?

[ptran]

Here is one of them (I have 4 total). They are a pain to get pics of. As soon as I get close to the tank they hide in their caves.

Beautiful pleco!

[morpheus]

Where can I find some assassin snails?

i originally bought a few from tim (armthehomeless) before he closed down his shop in his house. i have seen them at times at Fish Gallery. can call to check.

i can look in my tank and see how many adults i have. if i have a descent number, i can give you a few to start off. you cant tell the M from F, so hope you get at least one of each.

I used to have quite a lot, but once i started using that tank as my lab grow out tank, i think they snack on the young snails. i might throw a group into my geo tank since they can burrow into the sand easier to lay their eggs. build up the population more. right now they have a gravel substrate.

[ptran]

I was surprised to see a single assassin snail in my tank yesterday.
It must have been hiding in the plants that I bought recently. Not sure if it is a F or M though.

Hey but thanks for the offer. You live too far from me though.