The Puffer Forum

Have to say, i thought the same as you..... he likes to dance across the tank, especially at feeding time... 5ft just isnt enough. His new tank will be 8 x 3 x 3. If i can do it, i'm going to try for 10ft, it just means i have to perhaps move the fireplace a little... or maybe just get a smaller fire fixture. Small sacrifice to make really!! That said with a baby on the way, budget may well insist on only an 8ft. Perhaps friends and family will donate to the boomer charity when the time comes!! Either that or i'll start charging people to watch him eat. Makes me chuckle how friends always find it amazing to watch him crunch through a mussel or 2!!

I know exactly what you mean. A 10 ft tank would be great, but the idea of filtration and decorating a tank of the size is just as daunting as getting the tank made I think. Just imagine how much gravel you would need and loads of oversized bits of bgowood and plenty of tall growing plants and then theres the lighting!!! This is why they should not be on general sale in my view, a commitment on that scale is something amny people cannot match. I wish you and Boomer the best of luck with it and congrats on the baby. I like the idea of charging for veiwing though

I was talking with a LFS owner the other day that deals a lot with puffers. He told me some interesting information about these white spots.

I'm not sure if this is actually true, but its an interesting theory to say the least.

They have a Mbu in the shop that is starting to show the same white spots. He said that it's the puffer trying to release and over-abundance of its toxin and it's directly related to water quality. Aparently during the dry-season the water quality drops, and since the water levels are much lower, the puffer is more vunerable to predators. Because of this their toxin levels are higher during this period and for some reason it causes those white bumps.

its an interesting idea but I don't think it makes a lot of sense in practice. Why would less poison be a good thing and as the poison is generated by bacteria and isn't under direct control of the puffer this too makes the idea less feasable. Also if we consider that all puffers kept in captivity are completely or almost poison free due to them not coming into contact with the necessary bacteria because of the diet we feed them this also puts the boot in on his "theory".

Also all of the river systems will still have a considerable amount of water in them even in the dry season so I personally can't see how the pollution levels are up as they should be well diluted and the flow will keep it moving.

I am pretty certain that these marks are as we have been saying but just minor admage to the gentle fin rays

Hi

I am pleased to say that I have had Ziggy just over a month now and have not seen anymore white lumps and the ones he had have disappeared, so I think it was just due to the move. He seems happy in his new home and likes his food!!

excellent stuff, I'm pleased all is well