The Puffer Forum

I read the puffpedia on them, but can anyone give me any other insite on black river puffers? Im having a hell of a time finding any SAP's, and found a black river puffer on aquabid. From reading the puffpedia seems like this fish will fit the bill for what im looking for. Im looking for a active puffer that doesnt just lay on the bottom or hide all the time. And I do want just 1 large puffer, rather then a lot of little ones. I have a 55 that has been up and running for over a month now, I did put some molly's in it to help keep it cycled. I have been keeping an eye on the water and everything has read out good. Ill do another test tonight and post up results if wanted.

If anyone has one or did have one I would love some more info on them.

Oh and the bidding ends thursday so the sooner the better lol

just lay on the bottom or hide all the time.

You are describing a lurker, which is what a palembang is. I believe RTR's sig :"Where's the fish?" was in reference to his palem's tank.

oh ok, I saw where it said they were semi lurkers and figured they were more active. Oh well the hunt continues then.

Hi xrayjeeper - I've got 2 Palembangs, and I'm sorry to say but they aren't the most active puffers. Both of mine don't do much at all, although one is a bit more active than the other. Tooie tends to hang out in the plant most of the time, rarely swimming or moving about until I clean his tank. On the other hand, Jeremy does move about a little more, but not much. He most becomes active when it's feeding time, he loves earthworms! But all in all, I'd say be prepared for little to no activity. These are interesting puffers, but then again, I love all my lurkers. They don't do much, but they still have a certain something about them that endears them to me.

If you need any other information, or have a specific question, feel free to ask. Hope I've been helpful.

First Palembangs are awesome puffers, but I'd say it isn't the kind of puff you are looking for.
My bf's coworker has one at their work, and he just rests on the bottom in the drift wood all day.. he'll sometimes come out for food, but otherwise he is nocturnal

Yeah, PPG pretty much has one of every puffer, so she should be able to tell you about their personalities.

Thanks for the info yall. I really wish I could afford to get a bigger tank, it would open my choices up so much more. seems anything that will fit in my 55 is a lurker or really small

Or brackish?

Hehe, I know a lot of people aren't fans of grow-out tanks... but you could always get a baby Mbu or Fahaka, and get a much larger tank in the near future ^.^

I would lean more towards a fahaka. Fahaka only needs 120g, more the better of course. Mbu's just get too large too fast. You'd have to have a 300g by the time it is 1yr ... IMO anyways.

really dont want to deal with a brackish tank, not yet alteast. On top of my tank already being planted and dont want to kill off all the plants that I already paid for ya know.

How long do you think I would have before I had to step up tank size with a fahaka(which is what I would LOVE to have)

Depends on what size you find one at. Mine started at 1" & moved into his 125g within 2 years.

mmmmm thats a lot of time to save for a new tank. even a year would be good.

What size tank did you start him in?

Try to find a modestus or silus.. they are freshwater and very active fish. Nippy though, so don't do too well with tankmates that are slow moving.

If you can find an abei, I believe they are more of an active fish too.

But otherwise, yes, you're either looking at brackish, lurker or needing to upgrade, if you want a puffer larger than the above.

Myaj wrote:Try to find a modestus or silus.. they are freshwater and very active fish. Nippy though, so don't do too well with tankmates that are slow moving.

If you can find an abei, I believe they are more of an active fish too.

But otherwise, yes, you're either looking at brackish, lurker or needing to upgrade, if you want a puffer larger than the above.

to me the modestus and silus dont look like puffers, not my cup of tea.

with the abei if i could find 2 would they be ok in a 55 together?