December 2008 POTM - WINNER ANNOUNCED!!

[Myaj]

And here we have it.. the final monthly competition for Puffer of the Month 2008! The winner of this month will join the winners of all the previous 2008 monthy competitions for a final, Puffer of the Year contest!

So let the voting begin! (a note, management has decided to no longer allow voting changes.. so be sure you are voting for your favorite puffer!)


Entry #1:
- Species - Diodon holocanthus - Porcupine Puffer
- Name of Puffer - George
- Size - 18 in. (plus or minus 2 in)
- Brief description - I named this puffer George because of his immense curiosity. I do not know an age, as I only saw him for a short time, but based on size alone it is an adult. I photographed this fish on August 23, 2008 off the shore of Grand Cayman. The photo appears a bit green because I was there immediately following the tropical storm (flew around it to get there) and the ensuing algae bloom drastically reduced visibility.Again the moniker George came because even the guide noted how personable this particular puffer was. All too willing to pose for the camera and do some slight acrobatics for the video I was fortunate to shoot. This "little" guy made the trip for us, and his picture is posted behind my tank as inspiration to the rest of my fish to grow up big and strong.
Tank mates - a few large conch whose tough shells this guy couldn't crack, a few hermits cruising in 8 inch conch shells, hundreds upon hundreds of little fish, and an 18 inch file fish. Oh, and a tandem of trunk fish whose sole joy was harassing a small male stingray trying to bury himself in the sand.

Entry1.jpg

Entry #2:
Name: Captain Abe
Species: Monotrete Abei
Age: At least 2 years
Size: ~ 4 inches
Description: This is a picture of Abe inspecting his first clam.

Entry2.jpg

Entry #3:
Name of Puffer: Elvis
- Age: 21 months
- Size: 10"
Elvis lives in a 156 gallon tank. He loves mussels, crabs, clams and shrimp.

Entry3.jpg

Entry #4:
- Species Arothron reticularis
- Name of Puffer Stripes
- Age (if known) Unknown
- Size 4"
- Brief description - In his tank with a Picasso Trigger and a Canthigaster solandri

Entry4.jpg

Entry #5:
Species: Arothron meleagris
- The Brute
- unknown
- apporx. 8 in
- taken in Hanauma Bay

Entry5.jpg

Entry #6:
Species - GSP
Age - about 4 1/2
Size - 3 inches
Brief description - my aquarium

Entry6.jpg

Entry #7:
This is Freckles, my largest dwarf puffer(Carinotetraodon travancoricus), looking at his reflection in the glass. He is about an inch long. I don't know how old he is, but I've had him for about 5 months. I love his great little smile in the reflection!

Entry7.jpg

Entry #8:
Species: Tetraodon Nigroviridis (GSP)
Name: Taylor
Age: Unknown
Size: About 3"
Taylor says, "Hi! I'm glad you're home!"

Entry8.jpg

Entry #9:
- Species: Chilomycterus antennatus (I think)
- Name of Puffer: Aaron Burr (Fish)
- Age (if known): Unknown
- Size: 4”
- Brief description: Some folks buy the tank first, then fill it with fish. We do the opposite – we find a “special” guy, then build the tank around him! Little Aaron Burr (Fish) was the primary reason for our 3rd saltwater tank … a nice 120g!

Entry9.jpg

Entry #10:
-Species: Arothron hispidus
-size: 14-16 in.
-brief description: Huge stars and stripe puffer. Found him at my lfs.

Entry10.jpg

[Sponge bob]

good luck all of you.mines the **** pssst, we're not supposed to tell which picture belongs to who!!****

[CoreyK]

#1 looks more like D. hystrix to me.

[crazedpuffer]

Great shots! Good luck to all!
Oh I think "George" might be a Hystrix.

[Myaj]

That's what I was thinking as well, but I just put the info I was emailed.

[Pufferpunk]

Agreed, it is a hystrix.

[Sandee]

Hey! Voters! Don't forget to click on the pictures themselves ... each can be seen larger, and in higher rez. They're great this month!

Good luck all ...

[Jay.B.]

WHAT!!! It's early!! how come??

[Myaj]

Well, as I said in the other post, once we have 10 entries we're going to start the Dec contest so we can get started on the POTY without getting too far into January.

Where you been JayB?

[Jay.B.]

I've been moving house Amy still not got internet at home and got limited time online at work... ... soon, hopefully, I will be back up to speed again

[Myaj]

Only two more days to vote, did everyone get their vote in??

[SeeingGreen]

My apologies on the incorrect identifications, I read the pedia, and guessed based on what I saw.

Thanks to all for the correction! Learned something new!

[Myaj]

And the winner of the final 2008 monthly competition is littlepuffers!

Entry8.jpg

Congratulations! This picture of Taylor will join the rest of the winners from 2008 in our Puffer of the Year competition which will begin in just a few hours! Good luck to littlepuffers and all our past winners!

[Sponge bob]

Congrats..I wanted to win

[julianchan]

Congratulations! I love this shot....reminds me of Elevator saying HALLLLOOO!