The Puffer Forum

Apart from some Dwarf Puffers some time ago. I am new to the puffer scene. I have started well with a pair of T. Baileyi.
Very interesting fish. My intention is to breed them. Hope you enjoy the pics.

I have a couple of questions. Have Baileyi's been breed yet in captivity yet. Is it concidered difficult to breed Puffers generally, once you have a pair of course.

Any usefull advice will be rewarded with baby Baileyi's (UK only)

There are no reports of successfully breeding baileyis in captivity that I have been able to find. There is also no known way of sexing them externally, which makes breeding even harder, and they tend to be very aggressive towards each other. The number of cirri, or lack thereof, has not proven to be an accurate indicator of sex. If you are going to attempt keeping them in the same tank, I recommend a very large tank (75g or more), one cave-type structure on each side for each of them, and very, very heavily planted with lots of places to hide. Even then, there's no guarantee.

Read up in the library, Rocker's article will give you some great tips on raising the fry, if you get lucky enough for them to spawn. Usually with puffers, after finding a pair, keeping the fry alive is the hardest step.

That said, Boxermom is correct, there's no way to sex them unless you see eggs or they actually breed for you, so keep an eye on them. They are expensive fish to let them kill each other, so especially if the female does lay eggs, watch close because the male might get defensive and turn on her.

Thanks for the help.

I can confirm they are a pair, rather than two that I thought were male and female and just through them together. They are starting to behave in a simalar way to an artical in a UK mag, PFK. about breeding arrowheads. I believe the guy who did it is a member of this site.

I have read that the male may get defensive of the eggs. I would guess that if I remove the eggs the aggresion would subside?

I am setting up a bare bottom tank for the babies which I am culturing with liquifry. Hopefully that will work. I am of course happy to here any sujestions as to how to raise the babies.

Cool. Rockers artical is the artical published in PFK. Bit more info on this sites copy.

My male is now sitting in the back of the cave and not coming out for anything, food or otherwise. My females behavior has also changed becoming much more active and eating more.

It may mean nothing but heres hoping.

Sounds interesting, keep us informed

1st Rocker's, now yours. Is there something in the water over there?

Hi! How have things progressed for you and your hairballs? I recently bought two baileys and is hoping for a nice, productive, couple

Its looking good. I now have Eggs

I am quickly putting together a fry tank as we speak.

I am not sure whether to remove the eggs or leave them with the parents.

Remove half, leave half. If thats a possibility.

How may times have they laid?

I have seen the mating behavour a two or three times now. They both develop white patches all over their body and do a little dance. This is the first time I have seen eggs. They are a little bigger than I expected.

Once I have my Rearing tank sorted I will attempt to split some.

I will also take a sample of my water and measure the parameters.

Oh my, this is great! You must get some photos of this.

Congrats, very exciting! Make sure to keep us updated

Awesome! Congrats to the new parents!