The Puffer Forum

Hi Guys,

I've been out of the hobby for a few years, and have just set up a tank for a baileyi. It's just a 20L, but I plan to transfer into a 40 breeder when the right deal presents itself.

Anyway, I know they can be hard to find like congos. Is there a certain time of year they come into the country? I've had several congos through the years, and love them too, but this time would really like to get a hairy. I've got myself on the wetspot notification list, but just wanted to say hey and put a bug in your ears.

Thanks.

Welcome back Smashtoad!

Try Wet Spot, that's where I got my guy at 1".

ONE INCH? OMG. That would make me a happy camper. Curious if your guy ever buries himself like miurus and suvatti? Looks to me like baileyi Is designed more to blend in on the surface, spreading those cirri to break up the outline? Actually....I know they are, just wondering if they bury themselves too?

I'm on wetspots notification list, so fingers crossed.

Thanks.

Mine was from Wetspot too. I looked back at my emails and saw that I ordered mine toward the end of May 2014. Not sure if thats when they are “in season” but thats the month I got mine.

Never buries himself but also never comes out of his cave, either.

I use gravel so no digging or burying behavior but mine loves her cave.

But she is outgoing and always comes out to see me when I come into the room. She is quite the begger and expects food.

@Smashtoad, just saw the hairy puffer listed on Wet Spots fish list. $100 for a 3-5” wild caught.

Just happened to call a local shop on a whim on Friday, and what do you know? They'd been sitting on this guy for 7 months, which also made for a good bargaining chip. I got him for 60 bucks. He's settlng in well, and he has eaten already. Thanks for all the advice guys.

Wow, how cool is that???!!!

So I've had this guy for three days and he's blowing my mind. One thing about this species that seems apparent to me is that it should never be kept on white sand. I see so many pics and videos of people keeping them like that, and they mostly look bland and yellowish. You're never going to see this fishs' abilities displayed in such a bright environment...just my opinion. This fish wants to hide in plain sight, and it can't do that on light colored sand or gravel.

Another thing that seems obvious is his diet. This fish will eat a lot of things, granted, but he doesn't need to disguise himself as a rock on the bottom of a river to catch snails and mussels. This is an animal specialized to catch things swimming by. A freshwater wobbegong, if you will.

When he sees a fish is in the tank, he will come out of his cave, slowly, hugging the rocks as he chooses a place to post up. Then he just waits. One time he came out, noticed a fish a few inches in front of the cave, then backed up and dropped flat bellied onto the rock, as if he were worried about spooking it... amazing.

Then, if that weren't enough, he changed color right in front of my eyes...I got it on video, and below are two screen captures from that video, along with some other pics. He went from the normal color in the second pic to that purplish hue in about three seconds. I knew puffers changed color a little... but this shocked me.

This thing is on another level of wicked. Thanks for all your help guys.

DMD123 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2019 8:30 pm I use gravel so no digging or burying behavior but mine loves her cave.

But she is outgoing and always comes out to see me when I come into the room. She is quite the begger and expects food.

She is gorgeous... and looks big. How big is she?

What fish are you feeding her? Other things, too?

Just a few rosies and worms so far. I'm grabbing some frozen krill tonight.

Smashtoad wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2019 10:52 pm

DMD123 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2019 8:30 pm I use gravel so no digging or burying behavior but mine loves her cave.

But she is outgoing and always comes out to see me when I come into the room. She is quite the begger and expects food.

She is gorgeous... and looks big. How big is she?

Probably 5” or so... not a big puffer. Seems like my Arrowhead will get bigger than her by the way it eats. The hairy has always been a bit pickier of an eater so slower growth. Took 4 years of owning her to figure out her sex... that was only because she got really fat, then skinny, and I gravel vac’d a bunch of her eggs. I know Im pretty dense, lol.

Was going to say yours has some really big ‘Dreads’ going on. Looks really cool!