Can a Oto go in my 5 gallon Dwarf Puffer fish tank?

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Emmnemms

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I am starting a 5 gallon dwarf puffer fish tank. I will have heater/filter/light and all with a sand substrate i suspect. I have heard oto's can go with DP's. But will they be able to go in this small of a tank?
It will be 2 female DP's and 1 Male. The tank will be very heavily planted (prob fake plants) with at least a hiding place for each fish.
If i make sure to keep up the water and check it, would this be ok? I really would like an algae eater, but it would have to stay small. any other options?
Please don't guess. I need actual info. not what someone thinks. I know a fair amount about fish, so please don't waste your time answering this if you don't know for sure.
Thank you for the time
Emm
 
I don't know about 5 gallons being to small, (I wouldn't go smaller though). I think it would be okay if you just had those fish. My only concern is for the otto.

I personally used to have 3 dwarf puffers in a 6 gallon eclipse tank. They are cute little buggers, and peacefully co-existed at first. But after about 10 days, they turned mean on each other. I think they were territorial, specially over food.

One bully emerged from the three, he would hog the food and chase the other two. So I separated him. But then one of the remaining two took his place as the bully. They would bite each others tales, and not let go for several seconds. They are definitely violent little carnivores, don't let they small size and cuteness fool you. In the end, I just had to take them back to the store.

You can go ahead and try it, maybe you'll have better luck than me. I think your 5 gallon tank might be just big enough. But you better break up their view with plants or decor. And make sure they all have hiding places.

About your otto -- I wouldn't if I were you. Otto's are gentle vegetarians, and delicate. I've had them too. I think your dwarf puffers would tear him up and kill him. Please don't add the otto.

Let me know what you decide and how it goes.
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otos and cories were the only two fish my DP's did NOT get along with...

so i can't recommend them
 
No Puffer's should be left by themselves. Puffers have incredibly strong beaks and like to taste everything. Eventually they'll take bites out of your Otto as well as fake plants, filters, etc. They're great fish they just need to be in an aquarium by themselves.
 
I would say no, Otos which I own, should be in at least a 20 gallon tank to be happy, they also prefer to be in groups. Otos are very pick eaters, and in my experience and many others, won't eat anything but brown diatom algae. I at one point, had my otos in a 10 gallon with some tetras, but once I moved my tetras to my 30, the otos went with.. and were MUCH happier. Hope this helps.
 
That would not be the best idea, in fact it's not even a good idea to keep one in five gallon tank. over-crowding is a serious problem and if you are planning to add more puffers then i would suggest at least a 30 gal. tank that has multiple hiding places. puffers are territorial so hiding places put all around the tank would be a good way to keep the puffers from attacking one another. however you were on the right track when you said you were going to heavily plant the aquarium. and as far as "Otos" go, they usually do get along with puffers.
I myself prefer the porcupine puffer.
 
That would not be the best idea, in fact it's not even a good idea to keep one in five gallon tank. over-crowding is a serious problem and if you are planning to add more puffers then i would suggest at least a 30 gal. tank that has multiple hiding places. puffers are territorial so hiding places put all around the tank would be a good way to keep the puffers from attacking one another. however you were on the right track when you said you were going to heavily plant the aquarium. and as far as "Otos" go, they usually do get along with puffers.
I myself prefer the porcupine puffer.
 
Dwarf puffers require five gallons per fish, and usually6 best kept in a species only tank.

Otos do best in small groups, require more space than a five gallon allows, and I would not house them together with dwarf puffers.
 
i would agree on no as your tank is too small to add anything else at all even too small for 3 dps would get a bigger setup if i were you.good luck
 
A 5g with 2 female and 1 male dp is a little overstocked for dps, I would recommend a 10g with that mix rather than a small 5g.

Read this site. http://www.dwarfpuffers.com/

Otos are surprisingly skittish fish, need to be in groups, need live plants, and can damage themselves in small tanks - I personally wouldn't recommend them for any smaller than 15 gallons.
 
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