The Puffer Forum

Hi guys. I have just bought a Arrow Head Puffer from my LFS. He's great and has loads of character.
He's already 4 inches long and eats live shrimp every other day.
I now absolutely nothing about these fish so anything anyone would like to tell me is apreciated.

Hello and welcome.
I am moving this topic to the FW section so you can get a faster response to your question.

Are you new to the fish-keeping hobby, or just new to puffers? If you're new to the hobby, you'll probably have some work ahead of you (unless you actually got good advice from your LFS). If you're not new, then we have some good articles in the library about feeding and general maintenance for you new puffer!

Add in snails to his diet, and you'll have a happy and healthy puffer. Stick to Apple snails, Mystery snails, Pond snails, or Ramshorn snails, and avoid Malaysian Trumpet Snails (the ones that look like spiraling cones) because their shell can potentially cause chipped teeth for your puffer.

You can also try feeding him green veggies (anything that isn't iceberg lettuce). Most of us have had success with peas, broccoli, cucumber, etc. If he doesn't eat it the first time, keep trying it the next day, because there's a good chance he doesn't recognize it as food yet.

Thanks For the reply and making me feel welcome.
I have been keeping fish for about 4 years and wanted to progress into something a little more interesting for some time.
I saw this guy at my LFS and was told he was a Arrow head. I have looking on the net for the last 24 hrs and not found much info, but have now found that i actually own a Hump Back / Palembang Puffer. Thanks to the Puffer Pedia section of this site. Cheers Guys!!!!
So appologies for giving you the wrong info.
I guess these fish are not easy to identify unless you have a resource like this.
I also keep oscars and other various types of fish but am learning about them all every day.
Oh yes, the puffer is in a 135 litre talk on his own. Is this ok?

You've got a palembang! Then you've got a very cute puffer with lots of personality! Don't let the innocent looking eyes fool you though. They can be aggressive. My little Dragonfly has started trying to bite me through the glass. They are not amongst the very aggressive puffers though. If everyting goes well, you've got a fish you will never regret buying.

Hi there welcome to the forum. Palembangs are one of my afvourite puffers, they look great. If you have read the pufferpedia file on them then you should have a good ide on what tod. Make sure the tank is cycled well and that water qualiuty is spot on. Its best to overfilter a puffer tank, aiming for 10x water turnover will be about right

So i am learning all the time about these wonderful fish and he appears to be really happy. I have fed him live shrimp and completed a 50% water change including cleaning of the substrate/gravel.
I have added some live plants and bought a new heater and air pump to complete my set up and just ensure that all is tip top.
All his fins are up and working like mad, he has a healthy appetite and looks really at home since he has a little more cover to hide in.
Water test readings are all good and i am happy with my new little friend.
Ok puffers are a bit more work than a Tetra but worth every second of it i think. A really hobby fish!!!!

About your puffer's diet--you must give him a varied diet of MEATY foods. Ghost shrimp basicly have no nutrition at all & need to be gut-loadded with food. There are much better (& cheaper) choices of foods for your puffer. See the articles in our Library.

You may have to work him/her a little to make him/her to take "dead" food. Lurkers can be a little difficult that way, as they don't recognize dead things as food.

Any tips on working the fish. I have frozen mussels and cockles. But not sure how to get the fish to take them????????