The Puffer Forum

So this was labeled as a Burrfish at the LFS but I can't find anything that looks like it. It was being picked on terribly by triggers and other fish. It's tail was almost completly gone. It's been doing good with me, eating anything I put in front of it (as long as I use tongs to feed it). So far it's eaten pieces of shrimp, clams, scallops and I occasionally give it krill. It's able to "Camoflauge" itself by changing colors to match the rocks. Can anyone help me ID this? What type of Burrfish is it? How big does it get?









Thanks!!

it looks like you have whats c alled a "bridled burrfish" - they are in the same order and family as puffers...also with boxfish...so be careful with his aggression. prefers sea grass and reefy bottoms. eats mostly shelled food or inverts.
known to be incredibly shy in a fish tank. gets anywhere between 6 to 12 inches. depending on environment

Could be a Cyclichthys orbicularis in a bad shape.
Compare here:
http://www.fishbase.org/identification/ ... N=56764195


Together with porcupine puffers, burrfish form the family Diodontidae, while other puffers with tiny spines are Tetraodontidae.

Thank you both for your replies. I don't think he is a Bridled Burrfish (Chilomycterus antennatus). His burrs are pretty much all the same length. The picture I found of the Bridled Burrfish ( http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/Pictures ... at=species ) has different length burrs.

I do think he is a Birdbeak Burrfish (Cyclichthys orbicularis). He looks a lot like this picture http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/Pictures ... at=species.

He was in rough shape when I got him, but he's now in "rehab" I've had him for about a month now and he is doing good. He's starting to come to food, instead of me having to put it right in front of him. I'm getting my 125 setup for him. Hopefully that will be enough room for him.

Thanks again for your replies and your help.

I agree soxfan 19, the fish that you have has an entirely different body shape than the Bridled Burrfish.

Poor little guy. He's lucky you took him home and have the means to care for him. It pisses me off a fish store lets a fish get to that condition and do nothing about it. They should have put it in Q at the fish store.

glad you got it sorted out. keep us updated. can't wait to see him happy and healthy.

Thanks everyone! We saw him twice before we bought him on our third visit. The store is 2 hours away. It is usually a good store. They had moved him from a "Trigger" tank to a "Tang" tank by the second time we saw him, but the damage was done. My 125 was going to be a puffer tank anyway. This guy (who we named "E.T.") just accelerated the schedule by a bunch. The wife felt so bad for him and liked him so much, she agreed to spending the $$$ to get the bigger tank going sooner.

Think his tail and his fins will grow back? Any disease that would cause his fins to look like this? or do you think this is soley the work of more aggressive fish?

He is such a cutie. I'm not sure his tail will grow back. I seen a large porcupine puffer at a lfs that is missing his tail. It don't stop him, he's really quick. He was probally close to 12". Hope your little guy recovers soon. I can't wait to see pictures when he's all better.

Have fun with him.