The Puffer Forum

Is here any owners of Monotrete turgidus? Do you know what is a life span of Monotrete turgidus? And how old turgidus is grown up? We got one for a week ago, he/she is already 4 years old but still quite small, about 6 cm (2,5 inches?). And many sources tell that turgidus can reach 15 cm. So can we expect that our puffer will still grow, or is it just a stunted one?

Kottelat the guy who described the species first even gives 185 mm (7.3") as the measured maximum size without tail (!), but I guess they don't get that big everywhere. In a population of a lake (would have to look the name up), they were rarely over 8 cm, and some of the specimens shown by Kottelat "look" like an adult puffer already at 50-60 mm.

However, your puffer seems quite thin with a proportionally big head to me. I'd feed it a little more or more often. I think it will grow a little more.

Treat for ip's if you haven't already. Most puffers live for 20 years .Expect upto 20yrs if you provide a good home for this type of puffer

Thanks for the information again! So it might still have so many many years, I hope so! Yes, we thought also that we try to feed it more often, previous owner had feed it twice a week, we have now feed it every other day. Hope it would grow a little and get a bit fatter! Internal parasites, good point. We have to watch the situation, if he stays thin, it might be that. Is there some medicine you just put in the water or how you can treat parasites? (We have never done that before.)

You have to soak their food in suitable medication. Jungle fizz tabs are the med of choice here

Ok, thanks a lot for information!