The Puffer Forum

Hi there.

Just a quick question on Dogfaced Puffers if anyone can help.

The Dogface is sold under different names, some of which i understand and can relate to (Yellow bellied etc.) but what about the non descriptive i.e. Hush Puppy, Scooby Doo etc. Do these types actually have a noticable difference and if so how do you identify? Is it just a gimmick to try and sell?

Cheers

Their is no puffers called Scooby Doo or Hush Puppy . A lot of LFS don't actually know what kind of puffer they do have. Do your research and know what your buying is the way to go. There are a few different colored variations of the dogface puffer but I find it one of the easiest puffer to identify.

So....to confirm what you have said, Its a gimmick. As for homework, I have searched the net and couldn't find a referance stating there is no such thing, just a lot of Hush Puppy referances. As for ID, I dont have one and therefore have nothing to ID. It was just a question which i couldn't find an answer.
cheers

Yes it is a gimmick.

Cheers mate.

Take a pic & post it here. We can ID it for you. You could also look here: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Marine/
There are many species of DF in the Arothron family.

I don't actually own a dogface puffer. I was just curious regarding the names in which people sell them under I.e. A colour pattern which would define a hush puppy etc.
Thanks Dave

LFS make up names all the time for fish, especially puffers.

It's best to go by the scientific names e.g. Arothron nigropunctatus or Arothron manilensis. In contrast to common names, which can be used as you wish, there are strict rules and definitions for the scientific ones, which are internationally valid (even in the US) and can dramatically decrease the number of problems when dealing with fish IDs.

Thanks for clearing that up. The reason i asked, was due to the fact i used to keep Siamese fighters (Betta Splendens) which came in a multitude of breeds i.e. crowntails etc. They all had the same scientific name but colour variations dictated its' common name, just thought the same may apply to the Dogface Puffers and the particular colours.

OK, I see.

There are indeed some color variations of some Arothron species, more specifically A. nigropunctatus and A. meleagris with often used names in trade. The yellow variants of both are referred to as "Golden dogface puffer", strongly spotted A. nigropunctatus are sometimes called "Dalmatian puffer" and completely black ones as "Midnight puffer". I think most other names you see some times for such varieties are not commonly used.

Ah, I see. Thanks for comments/help.

One of my LFS has some F8's they call "Stream Puffers".
If you really want an education... start calling around to shops and ask them what kind of puffers they have. It's unreal. The guys above had "Stream Puffers", "Leopard Puffers", and "Spotted Puffers". I went to look because someone in the background was making up other names but I couldn't hear and the guy on the phone didn't pass them along.
When I got there they had 2 F8's and 3 GSP's in a ten gallon tank. All the GSP's were sitting on the bottom. Everyone had nipped fins.

Yeah I now realise that. My local had a hush puppy dogface which made me ask the question. I might ask them why and see what their reasoning is

More than likely, that's what their supplier is calling it. I'd be interested in what they say.