The Puffer Forum

With the tanks I've currently got set up I decided the abei would be good in my empty 40g, but have come to discover presently they are impossible to find even if I'm willing to have one shipped.

Are they extremely rare in the US or is it just not the season for them?

Karen

I'm no expert so i can't say for sure, but i think Abei's are pretty rare around the world???

I think it might be season, because we seem them often enough up here in Canada (now, not "often" like guppies, but for puffers, it's often enough). A place here can order some for us if we wanted some.

Just have to keep your eye open and constantly ask your LFS if they can order them (or ask for a list of stuff they can get, with scientific names, and look for the Abei).

I can say I've never seen one locally and that's in about 10 years of keeping my eyes open.

There was one in the LFS a while ago, and it was mislabelled. Actually, the manager didn't even know what kind of fish it was. He finally came up with his own name - "Flatbelly Puffer" - and sold him as a SW fish.

That's funny, but I can see how that can happen. I've talked to a few people to see about ordering them and they all said that the puffers that they order that come from Asia often do not have the scientific name and are just sold as "target puffers". I'm beginning to think if I find one it will be just dumb luck.

Karen

Yes they are very rare..even here in southern california where hundreds of LFS you can goto. I got mine at a LFS which was labeled RED EYE PUFFER(WRONG). This LFS also think FANGS and ABEI are the same(WRONG)? one thing for sure you can totally tell by their eyes,the dotted pattern and colorations. but of course the owner was too stubborn to listen to me.