Black River Puffer *Pictures*

Feathers&Fins · Post by **Feathers&Fins** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:39 pm

Judging from the body shape, shape of the head, and pattern, I'd say PP had the right ID with Tetraodon turgidus. (I sneaked a look at the pic).

Feathers&Fins · Post by **Feathers&Fins** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:48 pm

Here are lorimac40 picsâ€¦

Woland · Post by **Woland** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:16 pm

Tetraodon abei for sure.

lorimac40 · Post by **lorimac40** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:45 pm

Ok if its a Tetraodon abei how big will he get? what size tank? what kind of substrate? all that info, I really really want him! Do you think $25 is a fair price? How common are they?

Lori

Woland · Post by **Woland** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:04 pm

Not very much known about this fish.
They used to be rare, but lately export has picked up.
Certainly a member of the "Target Group", comes from the Mekong Delta.
Will grow to around 10 cm.
Very agressive.

I have 2 specimens.
Tried to keep them both in a 42 gallon.
One went straight for the eyes of the other.
Nasty wounds, had to separate them.

Substrate is your choice, the fish wont mind.
Heave decor and planting etc.
Fairly active fish, seems to be hunting for snails.

As to tank size; at least 20 gallons.
Personally I would suggest 40 gallons as a comfy sized tank.

Prize?
Wouldnt know.
Got mine for free!

lorimac40 · Post by **lorimac40** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:57 pm

I thought they like to bury them self in sand?

Woland · Post by **Woland** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:59 pm

Nope.
Thats T. suvattii and T. miurus.

Feathers&Fins · Post by **Feathers&Fins** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 3:22 am

Woland, what characteristics distinquish a T.abei from a T.turgidus?

Woland · Post by **Woland** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 6:35 am

Well, targetpuffers is a slippery rug, and the availiable information is more often than not based on educated guessing.
As RTR readily points out; when someone gets funding to do a proper scientific classification of the target group, we will certainly see changes.

This is my arguments based on availiable pictures and discussions with other members:

Body shape (especially head) is slightly more elongated in T. abei.
T. turgidus is bulkier (and probably grows larger).

T. abei has a multitude of coloured spots on its body.
The colour of these spots vary from yellow to orange.
Its "target" is as in other targetpuffers placed on its hind body, but tends to blend in with the other spots.
My specimens has a tiny speck of red inside the target.

Activity level is different.
While my T. turgidus is a nocturnal hunter, my T. abei's goes a hunting all of the time.
T. abei is a fairly active fish and reminds me (remotely) of SAP, GSP and F8 in behaviour.

Pictures in Dr. Ebert's book bewilders me a bit.
The variations in both T. turgidus and T. abei makes it more than difficult to conclude anything with certainty.
ID is so far more a result of concensus than actual scientific proof.

Here is some pictures which has been more or less agreed upon.

T. turgidus

T. abei

creampuff · Post by **creampuff** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 7:06 am

The LFS near my place is selling them for US$2. They're only about 2 inches though, so it's probably a baby size. but of course, I'm at the other end of the globe.

Tihsho · Post by **Tihsho** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 5:16 pm

Start buying them in bulk and help export them to the US

There are not many puffs (freshwater ones) in the Easter US

Feathers&Fins · Post by **Feathers&Fins** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 7:04 pm

Yes. The "Target Group" is a PIA! Ebert's pics of T.abei are horrible. I was hoping you had some info I did not. Have you ever seen live specimens of the different "Targets" side-by-side?

Post by **Pufferpunk** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:06 am

We had 3 targets at my LFS in a 15g. They all killed each other.

Feathers&Fins · Post by **Feathers&Fins** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 4:31 am

Pufferpunk wrote:We had 3 targets at my LFS in a 15g. They all killed each other.

This wasn't the good lfs I hope.

I didn't mean in the same tank. I met in adjacent tanks for comparison. I thought maybe Woland, Rocker, another member might have one of each type of "Target" Puffer. If so, he/she could more clearly see the differences between them. I can't seem to be able to keep a grasp of who has what type of Puffer anymore.

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