The Puffer Forum

Thank you all for sharing the pictures! I am not so confused anymore. Great pictures.

I personally believe belly lines are a statement that says "I believe I am top puffer." Very submissive males may not have them, while showing clear eye wrinkles, and a very dominant female may have them.

Yeah! My puffers are web stars!

As discussed in another thread, it seems more than 1 person has seen or heard of females with belly lines... it seems eyewrinkles are a better sign for a male.

How long before the eye wrinkles appear?
I've seen them irl and know what they should look like, but I am still unsure of how to tell if it is an immature male or a female with distinct markings.

I've found the eye wrinkles and body stripes don't show up until the male is pretty mature.. when looking at very young ones its easier to look for the yellow in the belly and tail as an early indicator.

I've got one that I am positive is a female, and one I am pretty sure is a male.
(He)'s got a rich yellow belly and a thick, dark stripe. Just no eye wrinkles. I've had both of them for about 3-4 months now. I doubt they are very old as they were (tiny) tiny (with no distinguishing marks) when I bought them. I just don't know when 'maturity' actually sets in.

you can post pictures, maybe we can help you out! Also, the yellow on the belly and tail always comes out much more obvious in pictures.

Excellent pictures mine seem to come to the front of the tank and say hello a lot but they leg it when they see the camera Finding it pretty hard to take a decent picture of any of them , very helpful from the pictures I would say I have two males and a female !

Just like the 3 of mine... no agression yet after a little more than a year so I hope it works out as well for you!