Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

The forum for puffers that either live or start in brackish biotopes: GSPs, F8s, Ceylons & more.
Post Reply
User avatar
Sterling
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 59
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 4:30 pm
Location (country): South Africa

Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by Sterling »

Hi sorry for all the silly questions.

What are the main differences between these two puffers? Is mainly the markings and size?
User avatar
hadla
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1626
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:33 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: 2 gsps and a big Stars and stripes
Location (country): California
Location: Sacramento, CA
Contact:

Re: Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by hadla »

F8s are brackish and ceylons usually start in brackish but need to get to full marine salinity as they grow. They also get bigger than the f8s.
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. -RTR
User avatar
Sterling
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 59
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 4:30 pm
Location (country): South Africa

Re: Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by Sterling »

And what is the easiest way to tell them apart?
User avatar
hadla
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1626
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:33 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: 2 gsps and a big Stars and stripes
Location (country): California
Location: Sacramento, CA
Contact:

Re: Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by hadla »

The figure 8s have thin connected rings that look like an 8 and the ceylons have two distinctive "saddles"
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. -RTR
User avatar
hadla
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1626
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:33 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: 2 gsps and a big Stars and stripes
Location (country): California
Location: Sacramento, CA
Contact:

Re: Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by hadla »

Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. -RTR
User avatar
Sterling
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 59
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 4:30 pm
Location (country): South Africa

Re: Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by Sterling »

Thanks everybody!
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by Pufferpunk »

Actually, not ALL F8s have an "8" on their backs. The definitive marking are the eyespots on either side of their tail.
Hence the name: Tetraodon biocellatus.

The Ceylon (Tetraodon fluviatilis), have a spotted belly.

ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/?g2_GALLE ... 4aa9f373f7
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
User avatar
sgtmyers88
Moderator
Posts: 1292
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:37 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffers
Location (country): USA
Contact:

Re: Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by sgtmyers88 »

Yeah I had always considered the Ceylon puffer to be some sort of crazy hybrid of a GSP & Figure 8, I would love to get lucky and find one mixed in with a bunch of Figure 8 puffers. :)

Random internet pic from Google Images.

Image
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
User avatar
hadla
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1626
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:33 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: 2 gsps and a big Stars and stripes
Location (country): California
Location: Sacramento, CA
Contact:

Re: Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by hadla »

Their eye colors are different too... If the puffer in question has any sort of swirly thin lines on its back, it's most likely an f8
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. -RTR
RTR
Mentor
Posts: 6155
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 4:39 pm
Gender: Male
Location (country): East Coast, USA

Re: Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by RTR »

Strongly agree w/Pufferpunk's notes on both fish above. Only the eyespots are diagnostic for the F-8s. The dorsal markings are far too variable for ID use.
Where's the fish? - Neptune
richard18
Puffer Fry
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2020 5:19 pm
Location (country): welsh

Re: Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by richard18 »

CAN YOU TELL IF THIS IS A FIGURE OF 8 PLEASE ??? AS IVE BEEN TOLD ITS NOT
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Differences between figure eight and ceylon?

Post by Pufferpunk »

That is a Ceylon puffer, it lacks the F8 eyespots on each side at the base of the tail.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Post Reply