Dwarf puffer, get one or no?

[zarate]

Does anyone have any experience with DP's? I found one that I really like but I don't know a thing about them and everything I read when I do a google search is never the same. They all say something different. I do have a cycled 10 gallon ready (was going to take it down, but found this DP)
I just combined a couple tanks today so I have room.....just wondered what they need to thrive. The manager at the pet store (Petco) told me they were brackish. I thought they were one of the few that weren't brackish. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

[Fishfirst]

They are NOT brackish... petsmart also thinks this too... its totally not right, infact they are quite intolerant of salt. Anyway, they enjoy eating snails and bloodworms. I'd get maybe 3 for your 10 gallon. They prefer a heavily planted tank, but its not needed for their overall health.

[zarate]

Ok, thanks for the advice.
I'd love to get 3, my only problem is I've never found them around here before and the one I found I'm almost certain it's there by mistake. The employee didn't even know what it was, and I don't think the manager would have either had my nephew not suggested it was dwarf puffer (and he's 10!)
I have never seen one in real life, but that is also what I guessed it was. So that is the only one they have in the store. They didn't even know a price we had to stand there for 20 minutes for them to find a price. I have plenty of baby ramshorn snails for him to eat, and I keep frozen bloodworms on hand as treats for my other fish. So I would be all set for 1. I hear they are aggressive tho, and definately not community. But would I need to keep more than 1 for it to be happy? Thanks again!

[Fishfirst]

most likely he's fine on his own. If the LFS got one in, they can get more, ask them to order some if you want.

[zarate]

Well, I got the lil guy today and boy is it cute! I almost strangled the girl that waited on me tho. I first got a couple flame tetras to add to my 30 gal. then I went to the tank w/ the DP and she goes "Oh no, you don't want that one. He's gonna eat the tetras" and I said "why don't I want him? He's not even going in with the tetras" then she said he's gonna grow up and need to eat other fish, he'd get to be about 8 inches. So after I argued with her and told her it's a DWARF puffer she finally bagged him up for me, but then she still had other employees come over to see him....then she was proven wrong and it is indeed a DP. They really need to hire more knowledgable people I think. But the moral of my story is...I finally got my lil DP. He looks invisible in this 10 gallon tank, probably how he likes it. He seems hungry and I don't think he was getting fed what he needed, so I'm gonna try some blood worms for him. There are lots of baby snails in the tank, so maybe he'll eat some of those. But thanks very much for all your help. I'm sure I'll be back at some point with more questions!

[LJ]

Its not often you hear that a salesperson didnt want to sell you a fish>
maybe with the right training and guidance she could make a good fishkeeper.

can we see a photo of your little puffer

[zarate]

Well, this girl was kinda rude really. I remember a time I went in with my mother to purchase another bird cage for her and this same girl gave her problems telling her she couldn't sell the cage to her, it was priced wrong...they priced it too low. And she argued about it, not calm either. So a manager came over and took care of it, I'm surprised she's still there. But maybe with some training she could be better.
As far as a picture, I don't have a digital camera. But in the very near future we plan to get one so we can take lots of pics of our new baby (who is being stubborn, she was due yesterday!) I will definately get pics of my DP. He's the cutest thing and so interesting to watch. He still won't eat from a dropper, he just watches me. He does try to tackle snails as big as he is tho.