The Puffer Forum

Hi everyone. Second time puffer keeper here

I am so happy to have a new puffer! I had a Southern American Puffer a few years ago who passed away in 2010 - today I went looking for Figure 8 but the shop didn't have any BUT they had this happy looking puffer described as an Indonesian Puffer - when I bought my Sourthern American I did a lot of reading on different types of puffers but I hadn't seen one like the one in te shop. I was told to keep him brackish. I can't upload a photo but I popped a video on my YouTube if you can identify what type of puffer he is I'd be really happy. Just googling Indonesian puffer isn't bringing up any puffers that look like him.

Thanks. He has the banding of a southern American but with spots and has a larger head than his body
YouTube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQwdIE85 ... ata_player

Chelonodon Patoca (Milk Spotted Puffer)
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=28835
Are you prepared for a marine fish?

Thanks - that's a big help! At least now I can meet the little fellas needs. They told me he was brackish so I bought salt and have added some and introduced him slowly. I'm not opposed to keeping a marine set up, it's his growth rate and adult size I'm trying to get my head around as I'm now reading up on his species and he's going to be a big lad when he grows up.

I'll increase his brackish conditions over time.

Thanks again x

This should be helpful: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19348

As you get >1.018, you can start adding live rock & a skimmer & remove the FW filtration. I suggest aragonite sand for substrate.

Thank you for your help. I did add salt to his water and then slowly added my water to his bag before I put him in the tank. He seems to be doing well. I am trying to quickly learn about marine with the hope of building him up in the coming months.

Is this type of puffer quite rare as I've not come across them before and ant find much information about them.

Yes, it's a Chelonodon, which are all basically marine fish and only travel to fresh and brackish water for a limited time.

I wouldn't call it C. patoca, because the taxonomy of this genus is messed up. Probably it will be called another name than C. patoca. However, most information you'll find online, you'll find under the the name C. patoca and milkspotted puffer.

They are not rare per se, but also not very common in trade.

Can puffers get white spot? Is the treatment for white spot harmful to puffer means they have no scales?

My southern American puffer was a hardy little dude and apart from when he passed away never seemed ill. I am very precious about fish and really don't want him ill - Ive read that a set up a green spotted puffer would be ok for a milk spotted - is this something you agree with?

Thanks guys

Yes they do get ich f/w and crypt s/w. These should be treated without medication

Bought an external filter, a new heater that has a digital display of temp on it and a refractometer.

As far as the white spot is concerned I'm hoping it's tiny air bubbles. I am so stupid cos I had other fish between having puffers I forgot they don't need the additional oxygen and my air curtain (as much as he likes to play in it) I think is giving him the appearance of tiny air bubbles on his fins. So ive turned it off and removed it. He does flick occasionally so I'll keep a close eye on him.

Any other advice is always welcome. Thank you again.

Is it on the fins?

It would likely be worth your while to get a s/w setup ready and drip acclimate your puffer to these conditions, this woul rid him of ich and be his forever home all in one go.

Yes and his tail. I tried to take new video of him in the hope you might see it, but dont think the quality is good enough.

As you can see his a happy little fella

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vciN1COX ... ata_player

Should I turn his heater up - currently set 25.5oC?

He's not flicked anywhere near as much since I turned the air curtain off maybe once all afternoon and I have been watching him almost constantly. So I think that has helped.