Tank size: Due to their small size, Dwarf Puffers, are able to be kept in fairly small tanks unlikely most other puffers which need larger tanks. A 5 gallon or 18.9 liters is the absolute minimum tank size for one but I would recommend a 30l, adding an extra 3-4 gal per extra puffer. As they are mid-level fish it is not important to have a particularly long or high tank.
Decorations: Puffers can get very territorial so it's import to keep them in a tank that is heavily planted. It doesn't matter what plant as long as there is a lot of them and they break the line of sight between each puffers. Even if you only have one puffer, it is still important to have a heavily planted tank to prevent your puffer getting bored and help it feel more secure. It's also a good idea to add in some caves and other various hides for extra security for your puffer.
Substrate: Substrate isn't a huge issue for puffers. You can use a variety of substrates, however, most people will generally recommend sand as it is convenient for planting your plants in and won't potentially damage your puffers (as opposed to some rough gravel for example).
Water quality: It is imperative puffers have pristine water quality. They will not tolerate issues and can often die fairly quickly when placed in a tank that is not well established. For this reason, I highly recommend you set up and cycle you puffer tank before you buy your puffer. Make sure the small ecosystem you have created is settled and constant, and your live plants are established, and then introduce your puffer. I recommend spot checking daily to remove snail shells and other muck and doing a weekly water change.
Temperature/pH range: Dwarf puffers are tropical fish and enjoy temperatures between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius but between 24-26 is best. They also like a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.
Water flow/filtration: Adequate filtration is an absolute must for puffers because, as mentioned above, they require pristine water conditions. I personally prefer using canister filters for all my tanks because while expensive they are a very effective filtration system. They also allow easily controlled flow rates and since dwarf Puffers aren't a strong swimmer is it good to have a fairly weak water current for them. However, a canister filter can be overkill in a small 10g tank so make sure when you do choose a filter it has some form of flow control or isn't particularly strong.
Food: Pellets or flake foods are not suitable for Dwarf Puffers and you will find they pay no interest to those kind of foods. Thy love live food but will eat a variety of frozen foods as well. Live foods include brine shrimp, snails, live bloodworms, daphnia, and blackworms. Snails are also a good way of keeping your puffers beak nice and healthy. Frozen foods include bloodworms, daphnia, and brineshrimp cubes. Be sure to defrost any frozen foods before feeding. It is also important to remember portion size - they are small fish so a quarter of a cube is more then enough for one puffer. They should be feed twice daily where possible.
Breeding/sexing: Female puffers tend to be slightly larger and rounder than a male. Mature males have a dark line down their belly and often winkles behind their eyes. While it isn't highly common for puffers to breed in the home aquarium is it possible. Most hobbyists find that when they do have a successful breeding there has been no prompting - it just happened. An important thing to remember is males can be more aggressive then females and for this reason you should have a ratio of 1 male to 2/3 females.
Decorations: Puffers can get very territorial so it's import to keep them in a tank that is heavily planted. It doesn't matter what plant as long as there is a lot of them and they break the line of sight between each puffers. Even if you only have one puffer, it is still important to have a heavily planted tank to prevent your puffer getting bored and help it feel more secure. It's also a good idea to add in some caves and other various hides for extra security for your puffer.
Substrate: Substrate isn't a huge issue for puffers. You can use a variety of substrates, however, most people will generally recommend sand as it is convenient for planting your plants in and won't potentially damage your puffers (as opposed to some rough gravel for example).
Water quality: It is imperative puffers have pristine water quality. They will not tolerate issues and can often die fairly quickly when placed in a tank that is not well established. For this reason, I highly recommend you set up and cycle you puffer tank before you buy your puffer. Make sure the small ecosystem you have created is settled and constant, and your live plants are established, and then introduce your puffer. I recommend spot checking daily to remove snail shells and other muck and doing a weekly water change.
Temperature/pH range: Dwarf puffers are tropical fish and enjoy temperatures between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius but between 24-26 is best. They also like a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.
Water flow/filtration: Adequate filtration is an absolute must for puffers because, as mentioned above, they require pristine water conditions. I personally prefer using canister filters for all my tanks because while expensive they are a very effective filtration system. They also allow easily controlled flow rates and since dwarf Puffers aren't a strong swimmer is it good to have a fairly weak water current for them. However, a canister filter can be overkill in a small 10g tank so make sure when you do choose a filter it has some form of flow control or isn't particularly strong.
Food: Pellets or flake foods are not suitable for Dwarf Puffers and you will find they pay no interest to those kind of foods. Thy love live food but will eat a variety of frozen foods as well. Live foods include brine shrimp, snails, live bloodworms, daphnia, and blackworms. Snails are also a good way of keeping your puffers beak nice and healthy. Frozen foods include bloodworms, daphnia, and brineshrimp cubes. Be sure to defrost any frozen foods before feeding. It is also important to remember portion size - they are small fish so a quarter of a cube is more then enough for one puffer. They should be feed twice daily where possible.
Breeding/sexing: Female puffers tend to be slightly larger and rounder than a male. Mature males have a dark line down their belly and often winkles behind their eyes. While it isn't highly common for puffers to breed in the home aquarium is it possible. Most hobbyists find that when they do have a successful breeding there has been no prompting - it just happened. An important thing to remember is males can be more aggressive then females and for this reason you should have a ratio of 1 male to 2/3 females.