Silas/Modestus Q's

[purplecandle]

I have looked for silas for a long time and online I found a guy who is selling modestus..although he has not had any in for a while..

He describes the modestus as silas...so I have been waiting for him to get them in for a pic..

But either way mod or silas..I have an empty, cycled, FW tank and I would like to put a puff or two in. Plus this seller is awesome with communication and does his own quarantine and IP treatments..

Today, he has them in and will post pics in a few days..

I want to know if either of these species get along with another of the same species...can two mods live together or can two silas live together (Long term)..Are they aggressive with tankmates..

And is there anything special I should know about these two species..I should know? What are their personalities like? In the puffpedia it says curious and active..are they more curious and active than GSPs?

Thanks in advance!

[PolishPuff]

Hi,

I got two silas in a 30 gal Tank. I would see them chase each other. Very territorial fish IMO. I would discover a nip on a back fin ones in a while but no meager damage is done.

While feeding both are after food and dont pay attention to each other.

Very active Puffers, they would swim all over your tank ( and I'm not walking UP and DOWN )

I keep them with 4 hatchet fish with no problems.

My silas would eat flakes as well as other food.

[purplecandle]

Hi,

I got two silas in a 30 gal Tank. I would see them chase each other. Very territorial fish IMO. I would discover a nip on a back fin ones in a while but no meager damage is done.

While feeding both are after food and dont pay attention to each other.

Very active Puffers, they would swim all over your tank ( and I'm not walking UP and DOWN )

I keep them with 4 hatchet fish with no problems.

My silas would eat flakes as well as other food.

That sounds like such a fun fish...I am getting excited!

[Pufferpunk]

If brought up as juvies, they should do fine together but never add another one to an established adult. I would give them 20g ea.

[purplecandle]

If brought up as juvies, they should do fine together but never add another one to an established adult. I would give them 20g ea.

The guy said they are as big as a thumb nail (I imagine they are so cute)..

[SilasMortimer]

This sounds excellent. However, I just wanted to point out my confusion on seeing the subject of this thread.

I must check out this puffer.

[purplecandle]

This sounds excellent. However, I just wanted to point out my confusion on seeing the subject of this thread.

I must check out this puffer.

I thought that your ID was silas because you had a silas named mortimer

[SilasMortimer]

Actually, no. But perhaps it's fate.

[SilasMortimer]

Is 'silas' plural for 'silus'?

Looking at the two mentioned species brings me to a question. A local store sells something that looks like one of these fish as "avocado puffers". They also tell me that these puffers they get, while best kept to themselves when they're younger, usually grow up to do well in community tanks as adults. Now, nothing I've read here fits that particular part of the description, but apparently that's been their experience and is the reason why it's the only kind of puffer they carry regularly.

Does this sound at all possible?

[purplecandle]

Is 'silas' plural for 'silus'?

Looking at the two mentioned species brings me to a question. A local store sells something that looks like one of these fish as "avocado puffers". They also tell me that these puffers they get, while best kept to themselves when they're younger, usually grow up to do well in community tanks as adults. Now, nothing I've read here fits that particular part of the description, but apparently that's been their experience and is the reason why it's the only kind of puffer they carry regularly.

Does this sound at all possible?

From what I know, they are not truly community fish...they may or may not bite but they can But, I do know of people having them in with peaceful fish..I think it depends on the fish...BUT I have heard when they get older they can be a little nastier..IDK

Most of the time when it says avocado puffer..they mean Auriglobus modestus..BUT sometimes they mean Auriglobus silus and sometimes they are really Auriglobus nefastus

Here is a pic of Auriglobus nefastus http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/208144/product.web

To top things and add to the confusion all of these puffs have "nick names" and if the seller does not know what he has he may just attribute any of the nicknames (Green bottle puff, bronze puff, avocado puff, neon green puff) to any one of these puffs..

To make matters worse there are two more Auriglobus puffs as well.

According to Corvus:
"Problem is catchers, traders and most hobbyists are unable to differentiate between the 5 Auriglobus puffer species (most don't even know there are 5) and pictures are often not sufficient for ID. It's easier with the fish in front of you".

I have wanted a silas for a long time, but I could not find much information on them-or the silas that was offered for sale was in fact another puffer..

The best info on these puffers is from Corvus...Click on his name, do a search of his posts using the word auriglobus...you can find his name by clicking on almost any thread that asks for a puffer ID..or do a member search

Also Pufferpunk has or had two modestus..

[Pufferpunk]

I had one what wiped out an entire tank full of fish, including 2 of the same species--overnight.