The Puffer Forum

Was wondering if anyone would mind shedding some light on lurker puffers...as far as your experience with them, activity level, and anything else you feel fitting. thanks

Hi, welcome to the forum!

my experience with lurker puffers was in the form of a congo puffer

here's a small list of pro's and con's of lurker puffers

Pros:

Although the active level of a lurker puffer is much lower then say a green spotted puffer, some of them (each lurker is unique to others) actually have quite a high level of activity (this is relative because they will do a lot of sitting) and when hungry will often beg by zooming around in front of the glass until fed which is cute

little to no activity means less feedings and also they don't need as much minimum tank space but again less is always more for puffers

They are really interesting as fish because they are so unique, mine although didn't follow me around like my gsp did. He would always sit on the center rock in the middle of his tank and watch me whenever I was home

don't need teeth trimmed

Cons:

low activity

some people have a really hassle trying to get these guys to take dead food and it can take a lot of work and weeks

hard to find

not as exciting and interactive as other puffers


This isn't really a pro or con but comes with the territory lurker puffers tend to be specific in their setups

Unless it is a congo puffer I believe a quite a few lurkers are dusk hunters and so you would need to get a low light set up and wouldn't see much of a few unless you're a night owl

and congo's and arrowheads need a deep sand bed so they can burrow.

Great response, puffykid!

LOL, lurkers have NO activity level. They lurk ...unless hungry.

Haha thanks pp.

Actually my gf was just saying about how I was wrong about the activity level cause I had a real odd ball congo puffer that liked to swim around his tank occasionally and also took dead food on the first attempt. He actually hated live food cause it meant he had to actually work for his food haha


So I would say unless you get a odd ball lurker don't expect much movement, but, at the same time don't count out getting an odd ball cause each puffer has it's own distinct personality so its really a toss up what type of lurker you get but I tried to keep the info more general.

Pufferpunk wrote:LOL, lurkers have NO activity level. They lurk ...unless hungry.

I have three lurkers, and they only move when the food hits the water. One exception is my palembang. She also moves a little when she is hungry, when it has been a long time since last feeding (i.e. when I've been away on vacation). Then she stays by the front glass, staring at me, accusing me because of the lack of food. "There was supposed to be food here, a long time ago!"

I have a Congo puffer, his tank is in my bedroom. I now crawl on my hands and knees if I need to go in there during the day, cos as soon as he spots me he's at the glass doing squiggy lips I've called him Jagger because of this!!!
They are brilliant at changing colour too, he a creamy colour during the day unless he's under the driftwood then he has a marbled colour, and first thing in the morning when I switch his light on, he's black

Troender wrote: Then she stays by the front glass, staring at me, accusing me because of the lack of food. "There was supposed to be food here, a long time ago!"

lol all while silently plotting your demise XD

The only fish i own is a arrowhead / suvattii puffer. He sits for three days some times without moving exept the eyes are always working, for this reason alone there not for everyone. I wouldn't swap him for any other puffer though hes really cool and never once gone to attack my hands. It just depends what your after i see my arrowhead like me (a chilled out guy) lol. Brutal fish will kill anything but very easy to feed, loves live worms, shrimp, snails, crabs, guppies.

My Turgidus doesn't move at all. Stays under his driftwood all day. Hides his face whenever I come around. Then he starts to comes out when really hungry.

Terrance wrote:My Turgidus doesn't move at all. Stays under his driftwood all day. Hides his face whenever I come around. Then he starts to comes out when really hungry.

Lol does it bury itself?

No this species do not bury. I have heard of them moving gravel to create ambush pits (dadof4).

They hang out in caves.

Ah ok, i remember when i got my fish the gravel was to big for him to bury so he sat in the cave much of the time. When i swiched to sand he never went in it again.