Please tell me about...

[~reefchik~]

Emerald Puffers, aka tetraodon cutcutia sp.

I'm not sure if I'm not searching the right words, or what. But I've seen some photos, my LFS has them, and they are like little jewels to me, very pretty and metallic looking.

I'm setting up a 30 x-high waiting for it to cycle now, so that's why I'm researching.

Also, Irrubescos. They are pretty too, and with their red eyes and tails, I'm intrigued. What's the consensus on them as pets?

And finally, salivators? I don't find much info on them at all, anywhere

BTW I've read the entire Pufferpedia now (excellent resource!! Kudos to the authors)

[Hilly]

Ive not seen many Cutcutia knocking around but I have been away for a while, the one I saw on another forum was very nice looking and the owner was very happy with it.

Irrubescos generally in pairs, people have kept groups, you can get the odd ones becoming evil and attacking the other members of the group.

Now the Salivators, they are stunning looking, my personal experience is that a pair doesnt work, Males constantly chase the female, my male removed a pectoral fin, and covered her in bite marks causing her death. That is not to say that it cant be done you may get a pair that are fine together but a large group with many more females to males to disperse aggression I still believe is the key to keeping these successfully and posibly breeding them long term. Problem is theyre not traded very often and the price is high making it a large financial gamble to undertake for what could potentially turn into a bloodbath.

If you can get pics of the Cutcutia in the shop you should get a definitive answer on if it is one on here.

[Troender]

I agree with Hilly that salivators don't do well in pairs. The shop where I bought the salivator I had earlier, had two pairs together. But as soon as one pair was sold, the remaining male (which I bought) killed his wife. I've heard many stories about aggressive males killing the female, but I've only heard about one pair where it went well (actually it was the male of the pair that was in the shop together with the one I bought). But that male had a very mild temperament, and they had a huge, heavily planted tank.

[~reefchik~]

Ok, so irrubescos in pairs and salivators alone. Thank you! I don't know yet if my LFS can get these for me, but I'm trying to come up with a Top 3 Choices list for him so he can check with his suppliers.

He already stocks South Americans, Emeralds, Dwarves, Figure Eights and Green Spotted. However the SAPs were out when I visited.

[~reefchik~]

Oh I just saw my first irrubescos in person! And they are really tiny. There are two of them. They also had several full grown GSPs in the marine section. They are so darn cute.

[Flutter]

Ooooooo. Why does everyone else have access to irrubescos?

[Pufferpunk]

Metallic??? You mean these?

[~reefchik~]

Yes!! I love that golden-green on top of silver. So elegant And cute at the same time.

[Pufferpunk]

That's the Auriglobus modestus. The A silus is even more readily available.