The Puffer Forum

Can someone tell me what kind of tail a true dwarf puffer is supposed to have?(i mean the kind that only get about 1.5 inches long max,i believe its called an indian dwarf puffer/pea puffer).I just bought 2 new "dwarf puffers" to put in the tank with 1 other dwarf puffer ,but i noticed that the new puffers and the old puffer have totally different tails. The old puffer(i've owned it for about a month) has a pointy tail like a tadpole or a snake. The new puffers have a fanlike tail similar to a typical fish and they are greener. Is this natural variation or is one my "dwarf puffers" an imposter? I thought i read somewhere that other types of puffers look very similar to the dp when they are young.

Welcome to the forum!

Congrats on your new friends.

Is it possible there are various species in the "dwarf puffer" arena?

I guess its possible that's what i'm hoping for,but I really am not sure. They look basically identical except for the tail. i bought all the puffers as a "special order" from the same local fish store,but they aren't very knowelegable about dwarf puffers. i only have a ten gallon tank so i can't really keep any other types of puffers long term.

I am sure there was an a post here somewhere that stated there were sever DP variations ... maybe do a quick search?

I never heard of a puffer with a pointy tail. Maybe a deformity? Could you post some pics?

Its probably just "flat." Like a tadpole tail? Yah they normally do that, where the tailfin is laid flat to make a tail like that of amphibians, but then the males will fan them out like a normal fish to impress females. I'm sure that's what your talking about.

Flat =

Fanned=

PS sometimes females do it too.

Knowitall!

Is tail fanning always for display purposes? My crew fan their tails pretty much anytime they're not moving. I have 3 males and 2 females in the throes of adolescence, and if they're showing off for one another that much now, I shudder to think what future months have in store.

They need their tail open to use as a rudder & propulsion for swimming. At rest, they don't need it open.

Thanks everyone that answers my question. It must just be the difference between "flat" and "fanned" tails. The puffer i described as having a "pointy" tail looks just like that "flat" tailed puffer in the pic that Lil' Swimz$ posted. I've had the puffer for a little over a month and i've never ever seen its tail look any other way but flat.I guess that's why i was so confused when my new puffers had fanned tails

Watch carefully when they eat. Our irrubescos almost never fan their tail except for right before they strike their food. They watch it, position themselves, fan their tails, then strike. It was days before we finally caught them in the act. Now that they've been here longer they fan them more readily but only under very specific circumstances.