The Puffer Forum

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me generally what A nefastus are like? My local LFS has just gotten some in, the manager actually phones me up now when he has any questions about puffers .... but I wasn't able to tell him much about this one unfortunately. I stopped by there today to have a look at them and the poor puffers were a bit abused looking, as if they had attacked each other. My friend at the LFS said that they were looking very malnourished when they got to the store and that they already had "battle scars" on them when they arrived. A few of them looked as if they needed dental treatment and thankfully I know they will get it because this man helps me do my puffers teeth, so I was glad to know they would be well taken care of.

I had considered getting one, but thought I should find out what their behaviour is like first. Do they get along with other fish at all? Do they get along with others of their own species, or other puffers? I read the info on both modestus and silus, but neither mentioned anything about nefastus, so I wasn't sure if it was similar to the other two, they all three look very similar. The LFS has some that were a good 2" in length, but most were smaller than that. I also read that modestus and silus both need dental work frequently, and I'm guessing that nefastus would be like that too?

Any information is well appreciated. Thanks.

I to have encountered the "greenbottle" puffer. There were two of these nefastus as explained to me by the local fish lady she said that they were the only two left due to them killing off the others in the holding tank. Yes all three in my opinion look the same exept for the eventual max size. I have two nefastus and one modestus in a 37 gal. They do chase eachother around. but the little one does it's share of nipping as does the bigger one. Other than that they have plenty of space, clean water and are hardy, happy guys. Low maintenance. snail breeding also helps with they're beaks as others have attested.

I have never heard of this species being available in the aquarium trade. Are you sure they aren't modestus or silus?

My friend at the LFS showed me the paperwork, it said "nefastus", but who knows what they really have? I don't know because I've never seen any of them other than in a book.