keeping pea puffers as pets

[WildFins]

I've been considering setting up a species-only pea puffer tank and I was hoping to get some insights from experienced keepers. I have a few questions and I'd love to hear your thoughts if you're willing to share.

[willie32]

I've never personally kept pea puffers, but I do have experience with their close relatives, the Red Eye Red Tail Puffers. I did a fair amount of research when deciding between the two species, so I may be able to offer some insights.

[cichlidgirl22]

Go ahead and fire away.

[WildFins]

So my first question is, with a 20 long tank that's heavily planted and has a sand substrate, what's a good number of pea puffers to stock?

[WildFins]

Also assuming a higher female to male ratio to minimize aggression.

[willie32]

A general guideline I'd consider is one puffer per 10 litres, so for a 20-gallon tank, that's roughly 75 litres, which would translate to about 7-8 puffers, given they're a shoaling species and thrive in groups.

When it comes to male-to-female ratios, having more females can indeed contribute to a more harmonious group, but don't stress too much about achieving perfect ratios, as sexing them can be tricky, especially when they're young or stressed in the store.

One aspect often overlooked with Pea Puffers is their natural habitat - they originate from relatively hard water, so while a high pH isn't necessary, a GH of 10+ would be beneficial. I'm not entirely sure how keeping them in softer water would impact them, but in larger fish, it can sometimes lead to growth issues; however, being small, it's uncertain whether this would be a concern.

[WildFins]

I'm also looking for advice on a feeding schedule. Pea puffers can be quite finicky, and I know they won't touch regular pellets or flakes. I've got a few things in the works - a snail tank for harvesting pest snails, and I already have a steady supply of live BBS and grindal worms. In the summer, I also give them mosquito larvae. I'm planning to set up a daphnia culture, and I've also got frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworms on hand. Are there any other food sources I should consider?

My current routine is to feed my fish once a day for two days, then give them a fasting day. I'm wondering if pea puffers need more frequent meals.

[willie32]

Some pea puffers can be found that'll take pellets and flakes, they've been farmed for years now so it's possible to get ones that feed well. You've got a top-notch menu planned though - with the snails, they usually only go for ones that are about the size of their eye. My Red Eyes used to eat all sorts of snails, but now they only take the small ones. I've got some adult ramshorns living in their tank, they were put in as youngsters as food, but they've survived and grown. Now the puffers just go after the young snails, which are plentiful. To add some variety, I give them a blood worm cube 3-4 times a week, the four of them chase it around and have a great time.

[WildFins]

I've never personally kept pea puffers, but I do have experience with their close relatives, the Red Eye Red Tail Puffers. I did a fair amount of research when deciding between the two species, so I may be able to offer some insights.

What's the ideal feeding schedule for pea puffers? I'm thinking of how often I should feed them, considering their finicky nature.

[WildFins]

I've never personally kept pea puffers, but I do have experience with their close relatives, the Red Eye Red Tail Puffers. I did a fair amount of research when deciding between the two species, so I may be able to offer some insights.

I find it tough to get reliable info on fishkeeping online. Too many sites recommend twice a day, but from my experience, that's overfeeding. Thankfully, this community provides valuable insights, making it easier to make informed decisions.