New Mappa Puffer

[FishFancier]

Yesterday we went to our LFS and foud that the Arothron stellatus, which we declined to buy two weeks earlier over the phone, was actually an Arothron mappa. He we were instantly in love with this little 2.5" fish, so we plopped down $79.00 and headed home with him. We had a 50 gallon tank at home with nothing in it but live rock and the three Damsels we used for cycling, so in less than an hour he was exploring his new digs. Below is a photo of this cute little fish just before he bags a Ghost Shrimp (lower left corner).

mappa+shrimp2.JPG

By thE WAY, When we got home, we found he was full of air because the store clerk took him out of the water to bag him. The fist thing we had to do after we put him in his tank was burp him, but that's a story for another time.
-Robert

[jasonation]

hi,actually,arothron mappa is abig puffer....in 2 years you wiil need a 110g tank and in 4-5 years a 250+g......

[Pufferpunk]

I believe that is an excellent price for that fish! Agree with the above post that a huge tank is in it's future.

[StormySkiez]

So pretty! I do believe this is the first mappa I have seen. Congrats on your new friend!

[Content2Swell]

This is an awesome fish. Congrats on the rare selection.

[Happy_Puffer]

He is so beautiful!! Congrats!

[lazee]

Nice fish !!!

[FishFancier]

Thanks, all.

Rest assured we know how big Map Puffers get.

For this fish, we didn't use a QT because he'll be living alone.

The store had him in copper the last two weeks. This, combined with the stress of moving has probably thrashed his immune system. We're treating the tank with a three day course of quinine to keep him from getting ich or velvet, as so often happens when stores routinely use copper in their marine tanks. In my opinion, the prophylactic use of copper keeps the store's stock healthy, at the fish's and consumer's expense. If you follow such things, the misuse of medications by many distributors and stores has apparently produced ich strains that are copper, Malachite Green, and formalin resistant (for info on this see http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/ichpar ... newich.htm ). Some people also report hypo resistant ich, but these cases are not well documented as yet and may just be due to salinity measurement error or misdiagnoses (here's an example http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... id=1359553). The eroding effectiveness of copper and coppers tainting of live rock and aquarium seals, is why we recently began using quinine instead.

Here's a photo of Meridian, a play on the word map, in his new abode. He (she if you ask Anne) is visible on the left side of the photo.

[Mareva]

Wow! Congrats on the new puffer!
So... with all the unique puffers you're getting lately, when are you opening the "Robert and Ann's amazing fish show"? We'd all pay to see such a great selection!!

[Happy_Puffer]

I love that tank it is just amazing. Do you and your wife need a daughter because I would love to come see all your puffers .

[Pufferpunk]

When you are done with the meds, I suggest treating the tank with vitamin c. Let me know if you need details.

[Corvus]

Some people also report hypo resistant ich, but these cases are not well documented as yet and may just be due to salinity measurement error or misdiagnoses

I can confirm these Cryptocaryon strains or isolates exist. They have been subject to scientific studies... and sadly have also arrived in the hobby.

Diggles, B.K. & Adlard, R.D.: Intraspecific variation in Cryptocaryon irritans.- Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 44(1), 25-32, 1997.

Yambot, A.V., Song, Y.L. & Sung, H.H.: Characterization of Cryptocaryon irritans, a Parasite Isolated from Marine Fishes in Taiwan.- Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 54, 147-156, 2003.

But there is also a lot of reseach done on new treatments and I believe it is only a question of time until some tested and so far pratically 100% successful methods are available for us hobbyists.

[edmlfc1]

He's a beauty! He looks big in the first picture and in the second picture he looks so tiny. Lot's of luck to you with your new baby. Did you name him yet?

[t1gerbee]

saw a baby mappa in my local pets at home, (walmart-ish UK equivilant)

he was named as a dog face... idiots...


gorgeous fish, but tell me, what is your fish list now? I've lost track! How many puffers do you have?

[cobra1713]

congrats thats an awesome puffer, i cant wait till i cant have an aquarium for a large marine puffer like that lol i am so jealous