The Puffer Forum

OK, so a friend whose a wholesaler (that is always giving me stuff) calls me & asks me if I want a puffer. Well, I have no room for any more puffers. He says it's 2" (he doesn't include tails) & he had to take it with a tank full of corals he just bought at a Backer show & has no where to put it. I said I'd take it till it gets bigger but I can't keep it.

It turns out to a baby burrfish--one I've always wanted, with the horns. It looks like a lil devil, so I'm calling him Devlin. Does anyone kmow which species it is & how large it gets? Right now, it's in my 40g. It's in with my Valentini (which I can move into my reef tank, if need be) & a dwarf lion that my friend also gave me a couple of months ago.

He's actually the fattest burrfish I've evern seen, barely a concave spot on it's tummy--really healthy. Right now he's checking out the tank, not looking stressed at all. Sorry, I have no QT room here, I know I'm taking a chance.

Congrats!!

Thanks, I know I probably shouldn't name something I might not be able to keep. I'm hoping to hear they only grow to 6-8".

It depends on the species. Striped burrfish, Chilomycterus schoepfi, are said to get 10". Pacific burrfish, Chilomycterus affinis, up to 20". I think those are the two most commonly available.

Neither of those have horns, that I can see.

He's eating vitamin-soaked mysis right now!

Is it a cowfish maybe?

Nope, definately a burrfish. Looks like none of them stay small.

What a nice give away.

Try Chilomycterus antennatus, this one has antennae that look like horns... or post a picture for a better ID.

Yeah, maybe YOU can tell it to stop moving for a shot! I can't even get good pics of corals sitting still...

Mine has a few small black spots & lots of horizontal stripes.

Jeni, send a PM to Hoover, he sent in a photo for the calendar of a burrfish species with "horns" that I've never seen before. Looks like Paris with big long horns and a lot darker markings. It sounds a lot like yours.

I could actually try. Just throw your cell phone into the tank and I'll call him
Hope he knows how to answer the phone already.

Here is the burrfish with horns, but these do not have lots of stripes:

http://www.kaikyokan.com/cgi/fish0/90.htm

This guy has the same markings as the Chilomycterus schoepfi but with long, dark browwn horns above his eyes. Keep in mind, he's only 2".

I'll try for a pic tomorrow. Maybe he'll be more settled down. Either way, he'll outgrow his tank & I'm already in love with him! I may have to beg for a 92 corner bowfront but I have no idea how I'm gonna talk Hubby into that one. Maybe, just maybe, he'll fall for the lil cutie too? My whole office is going to fall into the basement!

Congrtats. I hope you can keep him!

Congrats! Oooh! I envy you that one! I wish I had money for a SW tank, and the room for it too

Ah I wish I had my own place or I'd take him in a second. Just don't have the room here. Well, I have the room, but being in an apartment and hoping to move closer to work eventually I don't want to bog myself down with a ton of huge tanks. Its hard enough to get anyplace to take ONE tank.