The Puffer Forum

Hi
I have recently purchased a Jewel puffer (canthigaster solandri). i have since returned and ordered a spotted sharpnose puffer (canthigaster Jactator). i was told that the fish i already have IS a spotted sharpnose. i left the shop in complete confusion. sure enough, on some websites it does say that a jewel puffer is a spotted sharpnose and on others (the ones i was going off when deciding to get one) show a completely different fish. all of my puffers are the small breed not exceding 5 inches. is it me or is there some serious misinformation and complete confusion regarding these 2 different fish? Please help. Thanks

I'm confused??? which one are you wanting? They are both very similar, and very different too! what did the one you first bought look like??? was it all spotted? or did it have stripes from side to side across its Head??? Also looking at the tail fin did the spots run through it, as if the body and fin were one and the same, or was the fin a lighter color with no spots??? were the eyes black adn green? Or blue green and yellow?

Also, what site were you using when choosing??? the site that caused the confusion??? Everything I'm seeing compares with each other!

Pics please

We'll need pictures to be sure. Those two species are *quite* easily told apart. The C. jactator has large white spots and the C. solandri has small spots and lines of the same color around and above the eyes.

The confusion is mostly about the common names, spotted sharpnose is not a very exact name and would fit both species. This case shows how reasonable the use of scientific names can be. They are definitely 2 distinct species, belonging even to two different species groups within the Canthigaster genus.

Thanks for the response guys. mine is without doubt a jewel puffer(conthigaster solandri) beutiful lines fading into spots. slightly orange nose and tip of tail. turquoise eyes. the confusion is when i asked to order a spotted sharpnose i was told that the jewel was a spotted. i thought the spotted was brown with white spots?(colour variation permitted) the mix up in certain sites was with the jactater, solandri. i don't remember the sites i just googled jewel puffer and spotted sharpnose puffer. Anyway i have since spoken to a guy i know and he feels the lad in my LFS didn't really know, as most people would see them as the same and not know the real names(present pufferkeepers excluded). As it happens i have decided against the spotted as i have just added a mated pair of hawian boxfish. the spotted sharpnose looks too similar to the female in colour and markings for me. avoids the risk of squabble. so now i have a jewel. a male and female hawian box and a valentini. to make room i have moved my yellow tang and regal into my coral tank. i will try and post pics of my fish(especially my new additions) but unfortunately technology and I don't get on lol. it's taken me over 20 minutes to type this. don't reply too soon i'm tired lol. but thanks for your replies.

Way too many fish for that tank, I'm afraid. I would have just been happy with the 2 puffers in there, giving them each 20g water volume each. Boxfish should not be kept in an aquarium <75 singly or 135g for a pair. Although only growing to 6" it will need lots of open swimming space. If stressed, they can very possibly release toxins that would wipe out every living thing in their tank.

my tank isn't 40g. it works out at about 54 UK g. which is more again in US g. there is ample swimming space with just enough LR to provide shelter, i am not new to marines but new to puffers so sought proffessional advice before adding anything. 4 relatively small fish in 250 litres fish only tank is not excessive, I have been assured. water peramiters concur. the toxin is unfortunately a risk in any set up, and a risk that must be accepted to keep puffers or boxfish. Most commonly caused by bloating or harrassment. however i do not intend to add anything else as my tankmates are happy and peaceful. But again, i appreciate your opinion. Thanks.

54 Imperial gallons = 64.8513228 US gallons

Thanks. wicked vid

tks...

sorry to bring the species confusion up again but todays featured puffer (solandri) is what i have. Even on the pufferpedia it calls it a spotted sharpnose. But a spotted sharpnose is Jactator not solandri???? i'm either going mad or missing something ridiculously obvious. The latter i suspect.

You just can't go by their common names.

What can i say. I'm easily confused anyway at least i know what i have thats the main thing. Unfortunately if I went into my local LFS and asked some staff for fish by their real name they would be calling language line for an interpreter.