The Puffer Forum

J-P wrote:look up pictures of "sushi" by recombinantrider


one of the cutest little guys to grace the Puffer Forum!

This new fish, that I have named Mr. Miyagi looks EXACTLY like recombinantrider's "Sushi"!!

RTR and others are correct. do your best but expect the worst. I am not exactly certain WHY this species is so difficult, but the fact remains.

have you read the article in the library as of yet?

library/puffers-in-focus/takifuguocellatus/

I read it after PP's post. I also wanted one but am now reconsidering after reading the other posts.... you are going to have your hands full It will be a delight to keep, but a heart ache to loose. Just be prepared for that.

it was a regular old pet store and not a specialty fish hobby store and if I were to bring him back, someone might get him and not put in half the effort to prolong his life. I joined this forum to help guide me while I research the species more.

Since you have decided to keep him, of course we will try our best to guide you in his care. The problem with keeping a puffer like this though, is if that you think the store will not buy another one to sell to another unsuspecting, uneducated person (uneducated about this species, to be exact), you are very wrong. That will not happen. You have now shown that this puffer they know nothing about is a good seller, so they'll buy more.

Welcome to the forum!
I could completely relate to your strong desire to keep the beautiful fugu even though you are now equipped with the information that it is not an easy fish to keep even for the very experienced fishkeepers. Keep doing the best that you could to bring the condition up to the suggested condition gradually (except for getting the 55+G tank as quickly as possible).

Not to encourage anyone to do this, but I was a horrendous fish keeper who knew nothing about keeping any fish when I first had Sushi, but for some odd reason, and i was tremendously lucky, the fugu survived through all my mistreatment, while I slowly learned what I was supposed to do here, and did the best that I could every single week. I hope you will have a success story to tell and enjoy this truly special little guy.

All of the ones I have kept behaved normally (highly active, but not erratic) except for one of the four separate occasions I have tried them. That one went off his feed and did become a bit lethargic and ate less well a few days before it died. The others showed no symptoms that I detected prior to finding the fish dead. They were in a variety of water conditions (varying marine mix content) and temperatures. The smallest tank used was 40-gallon long, and that for a just over two inch (standard length) fish. The other three were in 75 gallon tanks.

By keeping the fish in an inadequate tank under improper conditions, you are rewarding the LFS for offering a fish they have no way of giving the hobbyist valid information for maintaining. I will never support such activity on the LFS' part or a hobbyist knowing keeping a fish they are dooming to death. That is no way to improve the hobby or even your own development in the hobby. The choice is yours, but I cannot for myself support such a position.

Good luck to you.

I want to thank everyone for help on all my fugu issues!

After worrying for 2 days about the life of this fish I contacted a Marine Specialty store and brought the little guy to them.

I printed out the artical specifically about the Takifugu Ocellatus from this forum and brought it to them. I also gave one to the guy who sold me the fish and told him to read it and not to sell them to just anyone. He was offended and said "Oh yeah, I'll give it ot the next person who buys one". He's not going to read it.

I think puffers are beautiful and I think you all are neat to be able to spend the time and money on these little guys!! I will admire them in your pictures and just keep to my novice freshwater tank for now.

Thanks again!
Lynn

I know that was a very hard decision, but I think in this case you made the right decision...you could not care for the fish..so you gave the fish another chance...

purplecandle wrote: I know that was a very hard decision, but I think in this case you made the right decision...you could not care for the fish..so you gave the fish another chance...

Thank you!

I think it's best for the fish,I hope the RIGHT person gets him and takes good care of him. I also hope they read the articals I printed out. I'm so mad at that pet store for selling any fish to any person!!

A wise decision, you will make a good and conscientious hobbyist.

When you get ready to try species tanks, check out the dwarf puffer. They are undemanding on tank size, and are breedable by hobbyists. They do best with specialized feeding and do not live as long as their larger cousins, but they are high-personality fish and quite rewarding.

RTR wrote:A wise decision, you will make a good and conscientious hobbyist.

When you get ready to try species tanks, check out the dwarf puffer. They are undemanding on tank size, and are breedable by hobbyists. They do best with specialized feeding and do not live as long as their larger cousins, but they are high-personality fish and quite rewarding.

+1 there are tons of other species of puffers that are better starter puffers. Most from what i here all have great personalities (seems to be a trend with all puffers.) Many people on here have freshwater puffers that are no where neer as demanding as your first incounter with puffers. Definitaly try a species tank and enjoy your rewards.

I only know 1 lfs that hands out a care sheet with odd ball fish and for true exotics you have to have an interview. I wish more were like that.

Thank you guys! I was wondering if there were "starter" puffers! I will be researching BEFORE making any trips to the lfs from now on. And I'm never giving my business to the guys that were selling the Fugu again.

I've been looking at the galleries of all of your puffers on the forum, SO CUTE!

Oh, you can go to the stores before researching, just don't BUY without going home and making sure what species it is, what size tank it needs and any special requirements. Take pictures of the fish so you don't forget details, (or write down markings, size, etc) and if you really, really want the fish see if the store will hold it for you for 24 hours (or a few days).

I fell sucker to that impulse shopping a couple times.. painted glass fish & GSPs come to mind

LOL at J-P! My first puffers were GSPs, then listed as FW, and expected to grow to 2" standard length. I got 4 of them to keep in a15 (!!!) to eat excess snails from the Cichlid rearing tanks. It was some years before the hobby recognized them as BW to SW fish. When i kept them properly, I got hooked on puffers, and they replaced the Cichlids as my first love among fish.