The Puffer Forum

I went to the local fish pet store and got me a new puffer. I have been cycling a saltwater tank for about two weeks now and since Gemstone died, I could not resist purchasing a Valentinni's sharp nose puffer(or Saddle back Puffer)

I have it in a 46 gallon saltwater tank. I let it out the bag and it immediately went after the ghost shrimp I just put in the tank. Man, is this puffer aggressive but awesome looking.

We had to stop at another pet store on the way home since the bag broke but luckily my new puffer survived.

I took some pictures but they did not come out right.

But here is the best shot I could get with my digi cam.

Welcome back to the puffer owners (or owned by puffers) society! The digi cam picture is not real clear but it's good enough to tell that you have one nice lookin' puffer. Congratulations!

glad you found another you are happy with, so sad about your other one.

enjoy the valentini (toby) as they are really personable as well, and are notorious fin nippers too, cute and a bit mischevous.

Yes, I am very happy with him. Know of any good links for more info on my new puffer. This one is too awesome. I'm planning on taking better pictures.

Probably will have to break out the web cam.

Do I need to feed snails to this puffer too?

I'm just wondering because if I do have to, I need to go get more. This new one is tearing them up. I was able to rescue most of them from the broken tank.

Anything moves in the tank besides the Damsels, JAWS, is after it.

How do tell a male from a female?

Crunchy foods for all puffers, but not necessarily snails.

I knew about the crunchy foods but was wondering about the snails.

This one eats just about anything.

Gemstone would not eat the shell on the shrimp but this one tears it up like it is nothing.

Man, does this puffer got some choppers on him.

How about calling him Choppers, or Chompers?

I was thinking of JAWS. I like Choppers though since he has quite a set of them. They look so sharp. All I know is when I look at my new puffer I just think of JAWS.

The way he attacks the ghost shrimp is really something. I bought 20 today and they have all vanished already.

Be sure to gut-load those shrimp, before feeding them to JAWS.

I guess JAWS got really hungry while we went to the LFS to pick up some feeders for the other fish and more ghost shrimp/snails for him.

He ate one of my fish and must have choked himself. I found him lying on the bottom of the tank not breathing with a fish tail sticking out his mouth. He nipped one of the fins off my Green Chromis and Black Domino which they are deceased too.

I called the store where I got him over the weekend and they do not have any guarantee even those the person who sold me the puffer told me. I will never buy fish from there again.

I'm done with puffers for now. Losing two in this short time is too distressing.

Maybe in the future. I will make sure to research them first before buying them.

You really haven't had a good week. Sorry to hear about your loss. I don't think I've ever had a fish choke on his food. What a terrible way to go...

I have heard that the sharpnosed puffers were to be very mean--now that's really mean! Sorry for your loss. Don't give up on our prickly friends though! :12:

Oh man, rough go! So sorry. Maybe you can try another one with no tankmates?

My goodness - to say you've had a rough week is an understatement! Athsma attack, ER visit, bad contractor & loss of Gemstone, single bagged Valentini, dog eating something, now this. Your luck has got to change for the better.

I'm surprised at how often I see this occur in the wild. Predators wash up with a too-large prey fish stuck in their craw, usually something with spines like a catfish or white perch. It always reminds me of the expression my French-speaking parents would say every Halloween when I OD'd on candy & got sick: "Les yeux plus grande que l'estomac".