The Puffer Library

Green Spotted Puppies..err..Puffers

Early in my fish-keeping years, I came across a little yellow fish with black polka dots. It had a cute baby face and greeted me at the glass, like a puppy dog, appearing happy to see me. I had to have him. I took the little cutie home and everything seemed fine as I went to bed. I awoke to find the rest of the fish cowering in one half of my aquarium, missing fins and tails. The little “sweetheart” was happily buzzing around the other side of the tank, belly full of fins. I realized this was definitely not a fish for my community tank and sadly returned him. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

In April my husband was sold the cutest little fish in the world. The guy at the LFS said, “Oh, yeah, he’ll be fine in your community tank.” That’s a freshwater tank mind you with such little snacks, um, beauties as neons, cory cats, upside down catfish, danios, dwarf gouramis, and a few mollies.

The little guy smiling at me in the bag on the drive home was definitely adorable but the name puffer fish tweaked something in my husband’s memory. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

I have found the Figure 8 puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus), to be the perfect puffer for beginner brackish puffer keepers. It is one of the most colorful of the puffer species, keeping their beautiful markings into adulthood. It is friendly, personable and entertaining. It even stays small enough to keep a singleton in a 15 gallon tank. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

Dwarf PufferOther common names: Pea puffer, Malabar puffer, pygmy puffer.
Scientific name: Carinotetraodon travancoricus.
Physical description: 1” max. Rounded bodies, pale or olive green with dark spots.
Lifespan: Varies. 3-8 years.

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Pufferfish are one of the most fascinating groups of aquatic creatures out there. Between their puffing abilities, unique swimming methods and intriguing personalities, they have quite a following. As more fish keepers strive to successfully keep and spawn puffers, they discover one of the largest challenges… accurately sexing the fish and convincing a group to live together in harmony (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

Who doesn’t love pufferfish? They’re my favorite marine family, and I’d like to share some information that has allowed me to be successful with this fascinating, intelligent group of fishes.

Marine puffers are cute when small, engaging when large (who can resist those big puffer eyes), interactive, and BIG! The vast majority of commonly (and not so commonly) available pufferfish attain lengths of 12 inches (30 cm) at the very least.

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Introduction
The author of this article, Manutius, is the owner of a 16″+ Mbu puffer, Clooney. Like many owners, he was told his 5 foot 90+ gallon tank was fine for the fish by the shop selling the puffer, and only later learned how enormous Clooney could grow and just how much space a full grown Mbu needs. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

The Tetraodon suvatti, commonly sold in the aquarium trade as the arrowhead puffer, Mekong puffer, pig-nose puffer or hog-nose puffer, is one of the most vicious of all puffers. The suvatti is rapidly growing in popularity due to the observable butchery involved in its natural eating habits. However popular this fish may be, it is also highly misunderstood due to the lack of information available surrounding the entire Tetraodon species. The suvatti can be and often is a difficult fish to keep and for those unfamiliar with puffer fish in general it is not a good introductory choice. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

Tetraodon suvattii, or the arrowhead puffer, is one of those fish you either take an instant like or dislike to. Their fry however are another story. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

A Good Relationship?

It’s been seven months now for my three T. suvattii and one T. palembangensis who share the same tank. They have all attained a similar size of approximately 5″. They are all fed the same diet twice a week, which consists mainly of mussel, cockle, prawns, shell on king prawns, krill and snails. Each one is fed as individually as I can manage to ensure they all get their fair share, which is important as they are only fed twice a week. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)