The Puffer Forum

I have a opportunity to get about 7 suvattii's, I have seen the breeding videos on these and am very interested. I've bred many cichlids but this is a whole other ball game. I know you can not sex them till a female lays eggs. I'm very curious as to the step by step process to get pairs. Would I start by putting 2 or 3 in a 55 gal and another 2 or three in my 60? Who has done this before and what worked. Thank you

Here is an article about breeding suvattiis.

thank you very informative. I am not sure if I will get all 7 but I am interested.

My bosses have done it, not a lot of info around really although, the article here is very good

This is easily the most information I have seen. I think I am going to try this.

I am excited to see what happens.

To be honest id keep them all in one tank, feed well and look after them for a few months and see what happens. Puffers are similar to cichlids in the sense that they like to naturallly pair themselves off rather than doing it for them.

Bogwoodbruce wrote:To be honest id keep them all in one tank, feed well and look after them for a few months and see what happens. Puffers are similar to cichlids in the sense that they like to naturallly pair themselves off rather than doing it for them.

In that case what would you say a 100 gallon would do? The only problem with that is moving fish around now than later once I get a pair or 2 I would probably sell the remaining.

digger wrote:

Bogwoodbruce wrote:To be honest id keep them all in one tank, feed well and look after them for a few months and see what happens. Puffers are similar to cichlids in the sense that they like to naturallly pair themselves off rather than doing it for them.

In that case what would you say a 100 gallon would do? The only problem with that is moving fish around now than later once I get a pair or 2 I would probably sell the remaining.

I 100gal would be plenty, they are very inacitve fish We kept 13-15 together in smaller tanks at work for a long time in sale tanks

I'd hate to have to move the fish in the 100 and then back that is why I was thinking of the 55 and 60. I'm trying to keep this as simple as possiblem When you say you have had them in smaller tanks at work you had it connected to all the other tanks correct? I imagine 5,6 suvattiis in a 55 or 60 or even a 100 would be quite an excessive bio load. Just trying to get more ideas on this.

See link :- viewtopic.php?f=56&t=17630

you can sex mature suvattis...... the only way to do so is put them in with each other females will turn white as a submissive pose to males.... 2 males will just fight

Two females will also fight, we once had one male with two females and the females where always sparring while the male just just watched. From what I have seen over the past 2 years is that the female that chooses the male on how well he can guard his territory, if the male is successful she will move in with him for a few days, as soon as the female spawns she makes a quick exit out of site, otherwise the male will attack. The male will now guard the eggs with his life advancing for anything that comes close including the female and my hand lol. I have over the past few months created a tank set-up where I could prove my theory, I believe this is because in the wild once the female has spawned she will then look for another male to breed with, and so on. Currently I have some fry in a tank

This is exactly why I would rather not see multible lurkers living long-term in a single tank.

I have found keeping more than 3 in a stock take is fine for a while if shellter is provided for each one so they dont have to see each other, but the more they start to settle down the more fights will arise, the males will always take the best spots, if a female is in a spot where a male wants to go he will move in a push the female out, where as females will take what ever spot they can. the best way to find a male and a female in a stock tank, is when you see 2 puffers sat with each other, the male will tend to make is dominace known to the female by nudging them with there nose or small bites to them, where the female in this instance will show her belly to him ( almost like rolling over like a dog) or by moving her face away from him. I can also tell you that i can sex suvattiis by just looking at them, I am thinking about posting a topic on the matter