My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

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NJD
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My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by NJD »

Hi all,

So since my last post, I decided to go with the Palembangs. After calling around 30 local (and not so local) fish shops. A few had some in stock but I found one specialist shop that believes they have what is likely to be a male-female pair. I have used a lot of fish shops before (I am new to puffers but relatively well experienced with other fish) and this in my opinion is one of the shops where I feel confident they know what they are talking about and therefore was happy to go with their advice.

They are 4.5 inches and 6 inches respectively. The guy in the shop explained that they have had them in for a couple of months and had no aggression issues whatsoever. He also personally knows the previous owner who had them for over 6 months and again no signs of even the slightest bit of aggression. I know ordinarily given the circumstances this would be a 'singleton' species - but given the circumstances I thought the pair would be ok. In fact the guy in the shop was so convinced they were a pair I don't think he would sell them individually!

That being the case (and the fact they look awesome!) I decided to go for them!

I released them yesterday and left them in the tank with with the tank and room lights off to settle in for a few hours. So far I have managed to get the smaller on to eat a piece of whitebait. The larger one hasn’t shown interest in food so far.

I wanted to share my update but also to see if any of you puffer pro’s have any advice with the following…

1. The great news is that they already used to eating frozen food only (apparently they have been eating frozen whitebait/prawns/mussels). I plan to feed them every 2-3 days and rotate these different foods. I want to avoid live foods (if they are happy with frozen then why change and risk turning them off frozen?). However should I once a month give them a ‘treat’ such as a live crab/crayfish? (This would be good for their beaks – though I understand this is less of a problem for Palembangs’)

2. If I am feeding every 2-3 days – if on a ‘feeding day’ one eats but the other doesn’t – should I try again the next day or still wait 2-3 days?

3. In terms of identifying male/female – all I could find out is that females are likely to be bigger. Does anybody have any other tips/advice?

4. Breeding! I know this is very ambitious and is rare in aquariums. However if I have what could be a m/f pair then no harm in trying!– does anybody have any advice? Any specific water conditions/parameters? Has anybody on the forum had any success with this before? I assume that if they do breed it will be more luck than anything else – but I thought it was worth asking 😊

I will try add some photos later.

Thanks guys.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by Pufferpunk »

Congrats! How large is the tank? Lots of broken lines of sight--heavily planted & caves at each end.
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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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by Pufferpunk »

Congrats! How large is the tank? Lots of broken lines of sight--heavily planted & caves at each end.
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!"
PYRU
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Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by PYRU »

Feeding wise just do the best you can it's going to take them a min to get acclimated.

I use to have to make everything dance with a suvatti and a congo so you're way ahead of the game. I don't know how you would get a non risky crab etc but I think it would be good to exercise the killer instinct.

The other questions i will have to let someone with experience comment. Look forward to pics I've been looking into these lately. Very beautiful puffer
NJD
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Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by NJD »

Hi,

Thanks for your replies,

I have attached 3 pics, 1 of the tank, 1 pic of each puffer. The photo that is upside down is of the smaller puffer (can't seem to get the photo to turn around?). They really are awesome :D. Also the photo of the bigger one I had to resize so the filesize was not too large! will try re-upload in a separate message

Last night I managed to get the bigger puffer to have a bite of a big king prawn and the smaller one to have half a big king prawn. I think the issue was that it was still a bit frozen. Should I make sure it is fully defrosted before I put it in? I'm going to take a day off feeding today and try again tomorrow.

Also I think they're still somewhat nervous, whenever I walk in they are always at the front of the tank, but on seeing anybody, the bigger one soon moves himself to the back of the tank amongst the plants.

Regarding the tank:

120L (I know a bit on the small side, but at the time of setting up I didn't expect to be able to find a pair! - already considering upsizing however in the fish shop they were in a 50L so at least it's a step in the right direction for them for now). I have a filter that has a flow rate of 1200 so about 10x. Plan to do 25% water changes 1-2 times a week - is that enough? too much? should I do 3-4 in the first few weeks?

Planning to create a cave or too later this week - any suggestions on what to use? plant pots? wood? slate?

Hoping somebody can respond with regards to advice on ideal conditions to facilitate breeding

Thanks all :)
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NJD
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Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by NJD »

the bigger puffer
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NJD
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Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by NJD »

The smaller puffer
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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by Pufferpunk »

Very cool! IMO, that tank isn't even large enough for a singleton. I highly suggest upgrading ASAP, especially if they are going to breed. Aim for 250l.

NEVER feed frozen foods! Extremely bad for their digestive system. Always defrost in room-temp water with a few drops of fish vitamins, like Vita-Chem.
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!"
NJD
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 121
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Location (country): UK

Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by NJD »

Thanks Pufferpunk - theres a 260 bowfront that I have my eye on at the moment.

Noted regarding the frozen foods - thanks the info - i had no idea it was bad for them! is that just for puffers or all fish?
NJD
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Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by NJD »

Also re Vitachem - I have heard about this before. How do you use it and how does this help the fish?

If i take a small frozen whitebait fish for example, if i leave it soaking at 8am when i go to work and then come back at say 6pm and feed the fish - will this be ok? do i need to rinse off excess vitachem before actually feeding?
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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by Pufferpunk »

That bowfront might do but a longer footprint is best.
NO fish should be eating frozen foods.
Soak for at least an hour (I usually go overnight), Drain off the excess vitamin-water.
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!"
NJD
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 9:08 am
Location (country): UK

Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by NJD »

Hi ,

They are now nicely settled. I have a couple of questions that i'd like a second opinion on....

Feeding.
I have tried feeding lance fish and king prawns. Neither will touch the lance finsh. The small one eats 1, maybe 1.5 king prawns twice a week no problem. The big one is a bit less interested. once a week he will eat half a prawn. He will go for it, take a bite, when the rest falls out of his mouth he wont go for the leftovers. Is this a normal amount for them to eat? Does anybody have any suggestions on another food I can try?

I have a friend that breeds red cherry shrimp, i could put a dozen of those in there, it would be a good treat and be a good meal (assuming they went for it!). Though not sure i wan't to give them live food and risk turning them off frozen.

Hiding:
The small one is at the front of the tank, moves a little but not much (as is to be expected of humpbacks!). The big one hides in the plants all day and literally doesnt move, soon as it gets dark he's out and swimming. Again this is normal with humpbacks. Question is, they struggle a little to manouvre through all the plants - should i take some out?

Thanks.
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Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by pufferjw »

You should definitely move them to a larger tank as soon as you can... the longer you wait, the higher the chances of them fighting. In terms of breeding, raise the water temperature to about 27 degrees Celsius and provide as many different types of caves as possible. And in my opinion you should keep the plants.
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NJD
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Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by NJD »

Large tank will be ready in the next month. I am converting my garage into a fish room (builders here as we speak!). These two will be going in either a 400L.

Foodwise - are shrimp an OK 'staple' food if I can get them from a local breeder every couple of weeks?
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Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: My palembang/dragon/humpback puffers

Post by Pufferpunk »

What kind of shrimp? Live ones?
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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