Modestus Puffer care and feeding

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Shrouded
Puffer Fry
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:26 am
Gender: Male
Location (country): Chicago,IL

Modestus Puffer care and feeding

Post by Shrouded »

Well I just adopted 2 modestus puffers, one is about 2" and the other about 1.5." I got them from a friend who had them in a 10gal tank with 7 neon tetras, she didn't like them after they killed 3 of them :( . They are currently in a planted 20L cycled tank (but reading from other topics here, I might need to upgrade :shock: ) They are doing quite well and no aggression to each other yet. They are quite active and exploring the tank for food and such. They look so different from other puffers, they are slimmer and don't seem to sleep on a surface like other puffers. They just float still like other fishes. Either that or I just never see them sleep because they are so active :D

Anyway, I'm working on upgrading their tank and trying to breed snails for their growing teeth. But just in case snails aren't enough, I was wondering where I could buy this product Finquel so I could perform puffer dentistry? Is it available in local stores or do I need to order it online? Will nail clippers be ok to use on them? Can I feed them crayfish for their teeth? The crayfish that my LFS sell are about 2 to 3 inches big, I don't think my puffers could take on that big of a crayfish.

Now my tank is right in front of my air conditioner, but the air blows upwards over my tank hood. At night, when the lights are off and the AC is on, the temp goes down to 74 deg F. During the day when Lights are on and AC is off it goes up 78 deg F. So it goes down about 4 degrees. Will this cause harm to my puffers? In the wild the temp goes down at night right? So maybe it will be ok? My room is really small so I have limited space when it comes to moving my tank set up. But if it will cause any harm on them I'll probably just move it into my living room. The heater is placed next to the filter where the water flows, will getting a stronger heater fix this problem? The heater I have right now is for a 20gal, if I get one for a 30gal will it able to maintain the temp even at night?

It might take months for me to set up bigger tank, I have a tight budget, but hopefully they will be ok together for now. What would be recommended tank size for 2 modestus puffers?

Any other suggestions or tips for these awesome puffers would be appreciated :D
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Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32975
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:

Re: Modestus Puffer care and feeding

Post by Pufferpunk »

I've got plenty of Finquel to share. ;)

I think 40+g (55?) would be perfect for them.
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!"
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PolishPuff
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1212
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:20 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: ________

Also cared for;

Fahaka------------------- Had to give it away
Auriglobus modestus-----Traded
Auriglobus silus ---------Died during transport.
Figure Eight Puffers -----Sold and or traded
Dwarf Puffers ------------Traded
Congo Puffer ------------Traded
South American Puffers -Traded
Carinotetraodon lorteti --Died under my supervision :(
Location (country): USA-Chicago, IL
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Modestus Puffer care and feeding

Post by PolishPuff »

+1

I got one 40g breeder tank with metal stand for sale in you need it

Did you buy those puffers at Coral Reef in Norridge?
"Lost time is never found again" Benjamin Franklin
Shrouded
Puffer Fry
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:26 am
Gender: Male
Location (country): Chicago,IL

Re: Modestus Puffer care and feeding

Post by Shrouded »

Oh cool you guys are from Chicago too. Thanks for the offers guys, PufferPunk how much are you selling Finquels for? Polish Puff, I'm very interested in buying that 40 gallon breeder how much is it? :D

I'm not sure where she bought it, I usually go to Ocean Design Aquarium down at Irving Park, the only FW puffers I've seen there are DPs, SAPs, and a Fahaka. Now they only have DPs atm.

Here are my tank shots BTW. Can't close in on my puffers cuz I only have a laptop camera :?
but you could see both of them on my 2nd pic.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/28 ... 14152.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84 ... t1417.jpg/
User avatar
PolishPuff
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1212
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:20 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: ________

Also cared for;

Fahaka------------------- Had to give it away
Auriglobus modestus-----Traded
Auriglobus silus ---------Died during transport.
Figure Eight Puffers -----Sold and or traded
Dwarf Puffers ------------Traded
Congo Puffer ------------Traded
South American Puffers -Traded
Carinotetraodon lorteti --Died under my supervision :(
Location (country): USA-Chicago, IL
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Modestus Puffer care and feeding

Post by PolishPuff »

I like going to Ocean Design Aquarium as well.
Polish Puff, I'm very interested in buying that 40 gallon breeder how much is it?


I will PM you with details
"Lost time is never found again" Benjamin Franklin
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32975
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:

Re: Modestus Puffer care and feeding

Post by Pufferpunk »

That is a perfect tank for them, nice, large footprint. :)
Check out Coral Reef, they have some cool stuff in there.

I can give you a small bag of some Finquel for free.
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!"
Shrouded
Puffer Fry
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:26 am
Gender: Male
Location (country): Chicago,IL

Re: Modestus Puffer care and feeding

Post by Shrouded »

Well I decided to take one back to my friend, I don't think I'm ready for a 40 gallon tank yet. Maybe someday :? Thanks again for the offer PolishPuff. PufferPunk, I'll send you a PM concerning the Finquel.

I bought a heater for a 30 gallon tank, but it's hard to test it with AC on since the weather in Chicago is kinda crazy.
User avatar
PolishPuff
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1212
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:20 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: ________

Also cared for;

Fahaka------------------- Had to give it away
Auriglobus modestus-----Traded
Auriglobus silus ---------Died during transport.
Figure Eight Puffers -----Sold and or traded
Dwarf Puffers ------------Traded
Congo Puffer ------------Traded
South American Puffers -Traded
Carinotetraodon lorteti --Died under my supervision :(
Location (country): USA-Chicago, IL
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Modestus Puffer care and feeding

Post by PolishPuff »

I got your PM, its cool.

Puffer keeping is like a addiction so be careful :D
"Lost time is never found again" Benjamin Franklin
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32975
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:

Re: Modestus Puffer care and feeding

Post by Pufferpunk »

PolishPuff used to bring by his modestus for dentistry.
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!"
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