The Puffer Forum

I've just bought a 5" palembang puffer from a guy in the classifieds
the puffer looks very healthy, chubby, etc
the guy has been feeding him mussel, cockle and whitebait.

i currently have the puffer in a cycled quarantine tank
I'm setting up a bigger tank for him within the next week.

Theres not much info I can find about them
anyone have one that can give any info on them?

I've read the pufferpedia on them etc
I know they are a lurker, and not very active

When getting him a new tank, is water volume more important than size?
Was thinking of getting maybe a corner tank or cube tank rather than a long one since they arent very active?

Hey Lesley, because a Palembang can reach a size of about 8" I keep mine in at least a 20-gallon tank. In fact, both of mine are in tanks of that size and that seems to be fine. Mine rarely do much more than move from one end of the tank to the other, and like to hang out in their PVC tubes. Even though they are a piscivore, I've never really fed mine live fish, but usually pieces of shrimp (prawn), or mussels and the occasional earthworm. But one thing I did recently find out, I thought my rabbit snails would be okay in the tank with the Palembangs because they don't show any interest in the ramshorn, only to have my entire collection of rabbit snails (Tylomelania snails) wiped out because I thought they would be ignored. Of course, if you don't have those type of snails, then there's no worry. Needless to say, I was not happy!!!

What water conditions do you keep these animals in?

Mac Myers wrote:What water conditions do you keep these animals in?

fully cycled tank, freshwater with prime
that what you mean?
im going to be doing a daily WC on the QT hes in now, to make sure water params stay good


suzanne - they dont move at all do they? lol! he will prob be the only fish in the tank, ive taken away my ramshorn snail tank as was no longer needed!
what size is a 20 gallon tank suzanne? i used to UK litres, still working my way round gallons!

Mine moves around a little bit, from one resting spot to another usually. And a 20-gallon tank is about a 75-litre tank, but that's me going from American gallons to litres, but close enough I think.

thanks suzanne
im looking to get him a 100-120 litre tank
either a corner or cube one
they dont move much, so no point having a long tank.
thought water volume would be more important, and good filtration

I'm sure you will be an excellent Palembang Momma to this puffer. Get some photos uploaded, so we can have a look. I love the patterns on their sides and those big eyes. Believe it or not, the LFS that had my baby one actually had it listed as a "lineatus", just another case of an LFS being ill informed.

that would be a surprise to see a fahaka listed as a palembang lol

will get some pics up tomorrow, currently have the lights off in the tank so he can settle in.

I'm looking at some "figure 8's" and the store owners says fresh and another guy there who keeps them says brackish. A lot of conflicting info. I keep some Halocaridina Rubra (shrimp) in brackish and it's a hassle.

figure 8 puffers are low end brackish puffers

Mac Myers wrote:I'm looking at some "figure 8's" and the store owners says fresh and another guy there who keeps them says brackish. A lot of conflicting info. I keep some Halocaridina Rubra (shrimp) in brackish and it's a hassle.

They are low end brackish without a doubt. Anyone who says they're freshwater does not know what they're talking about.

Mac Myers wrote:I'm looking at some "figure 8's" and the store owners says fresh and another guy there who keeps them says brackish. A lot of conflicting info. I keep some Halocaridina Rubra (shrimp) in brackish and it's a hassle.

Please start a new thread on this in the BW Puffer Forum.

I kept my palembang in a 40-long, but a 30-long likely would have done. Mine was a far from active fish, but it did move regularly and routinely. Most of its time was in or on top of or quite near its larger bogwood cave (there were two such in tank - it never used the smaller one that I saw). When ghost shrimp were present, the puff could be hanging out just about anywhere - it did not stalk them, but varied its lurking spot routinely. Very, very cool fish. Strikingly marked - I still think it is one of my favorite puffers.

Didn't your sig cone from that fish?

well i got a used cube tank today.
its around 1oo litres(UK) or there abouts

he looks alot happier in it than he did in the smaller tank.

hes eaten some prawn, literally had to put it into his mouth!

they are lovely marked puffers, and hes a big fat specimen lol

will get some pics up when hes settled in over the next day or so