Puffers and Convicts

[fishman1]

Hello everyone and this is my first post!
I just put two puffers in with one of my cichlids. (Blue African) I had puffers in the past but they seem to die easily. Any suggestions on keepin puffers alive and what they like to eat?
I also have had a Convict for many years,so many years l forgot when I got him. I think I raised him from eggs that hatched in 1992 when l had been breeding them. Any Idea on how to tell the age of a convict fish?
I have him in a 30 long tank and he is HUGE!

 

[jonclark96]

I've never kept puffers my self, but I'm pretty sure the first step in keeping them alive is not to keep them with African cichlids.

I've read that folks feed snails to their puffers.

 

[jonclark96]

Here's what popped up when I Googled dwarf puffer

http://www.dwarfpuffers.com/

 

[verbal]

Dwarf puffers are freshwater, most other commonly available puffers are brackish(or marine). There is the South American or schooling puffer(Colomesus asellus)that is harder to find, but freshwater and a very cool fish.

I can't think of any that are really good tank mates for cichlids.