The Puffer Library – Page 3 – Information and Articles on Puffers and other Aquarium Fish

VIII. Euthanasia Options

Euthanasia Options

*Author’s Note*
Some of these choices outlined in this article will contain methods which may offend some readers. They may seem excessively violent or gruesome, something you would never consider using on your fish… but imagine coming home one day and finding one of your beloved pets was sucked into a motor after a guard fell off, or attacked by a tank mate, and left mangled and helpless, with no hope of survival… yet still alive and suffering. In a situation such as this you may not have time to run to the drug store for some clove oil, or mail order some MS-222, and even if you do have the time, your fish will be suffering and probably dying while it waits. For some people, that is enough incentive to utilize one of the more “harsh” methods outlined below, for others, it is not. This decision is one that each fishkeeper will have to make on their own, no one can make it for them or tell them what choice is best. I highly encourage all readers to have some MS-222 or Clove Oil on hand in case such a situation should occur, and thus be able to avoid making that difficult decision. And of course, lets hope none of us has a need to use this article anytime soon. Continue reading VIII. Euthanasia Options

V. You & Chlorine or Chloramines

You & Chlorine or Chloramines

Introduction:

In the United States, most of us get our water for home and aquarium use from our taps. Our taps are supplied with water by a local community, city, or area utility. Those utilities are highly regulated by state and local governments, which are in turn under regulation by the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency of our federal government. The EPA sets the rules under which our local utilities operate. They define what agents are used to process and disinfect our water supply, and how much of the agent can or must be used. Continue reading V. You & Chlorine or Chloramines

XII. Takifugu ocellatus: The Mysterious Orange Saddleback Puffer

by Eileen Ridgeway and Marco Lichtenberger

Introduction
The beautiful Takifugu ocellatus, otherwise known as the Orange saddleback puffer is a captivating fish. The one mystery that has always surrounded this beautiful puffer is how to lengthen its lifespan in captivity. Not much literature is available on the aquarium care of this species, and those surviving more than a few months in aquariums are scarce. I (Eileen) stumbled upon a revelation though, thanks to a little store Fugu that I brought home with me over 2 years ago. Continue reading XII. Takifugu ocellatus: The Mysterious Orange Saddleback Puffer

VI. Marine Pufferfish Care

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.

Continue reading VI. Marine Pufferfish Care

IV. EMERGENCY: How to Quickly Cycle a New Tank

Help Me!
“Help me! I recently set up a fish tank and just bought a new puffer (or other fish), but now it’s dying on me!”

Did you just set up a tank within the last 2 months, went to the store and purchased a puffer (or another fish), brought them home, and now they are looking like they are dying? If so, you are probably suffering from an uncycled tank.

You need to take action IMMEDIATE or you puffer/fish will be dead before the day is over!

Continue reading IV. EMERGENCY: How to Quickly Cycle a New Tank

XI. The Nice Puffer: Colomesus asellus, the South American Puffer

Pufferfish generally have a reputation for being aggressive loners, but one species that isn’t is the South American pufferfish Colomesus asellus, often simply called the SAP. Continue reading XI. The Nice Puffer: Colomesus asellus, the South American Puffer

III. The Figure Eight Puffer; Colorful, Comical, Compact Fish

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. Continue reading III. The Figure Eight Puffer; Colorful, Comical, Compact Fish

VIII: The Arrowhead Puffer: Maliciously Miraculous

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. Continue reading VIII: The Arrowhead Puffer: Maliciously Miraculous

I. Clean Up Crew

Clean-up crews are meaningless in freshwater and brackish aquaria, and only mean something in reef tanks. You don’t need them in ordinary (non-reef) marine tanks anymore than in freshwater tanks. Continue reading I. Clean Up Crew

VII. Mbu for You?

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. Continue reading VII. Mbu for You?