The Puffer Forum

Hello All,

I recently purchased two Dwarf Puffers for my new Fluval Flex 9g tank and I'm having trouble sexing them, they both seem to have traits attributed to both sexes so I'm hoping to get some outside opinions.

Puffer #1 I refer to as "yellow" this puffer is:
- Large, about one full inch
- Faded and more yellow pattern and belly
- No eye wrinkles
- Very pronounced dark red belly line w/ "goatee" that does not fade

Puffer #2 I refer to as "white" this puffer is:
- About 3/4" long
- Much brighter with a white belly
- Has a faded belly line that is sometimes nearly invisible but always gets darker when feeding and being aggressive to the other puffer
- Clearly visible iridescent blue eye wrinkles

Here are some pictures to help:

Picture 1: "White"


Picture 2: "Yellow"


Picture 3: White in front showing eye wrinkles, yellow behind


Picture 4: White on left showing faded belly line, Yellow on right showing pronounced dark belly line


Please let me know what you think and why, thanks for the help!

Mature males have an obvious dark line that runs length-ways over the ventral surface (underside) which the females lack.

Typically, mature males have a pattern of closely-arranged lines around the eye, which are frequently referred to as ‘wrinkles’. Sexually mature females are also rounder in the body than the males.

Sorry, no pics: library/puffers-in-focus/sexing-carinot ... rf-puffer/

Yes, I have read those descriptions in various places online however here is my problem:

Puffer 1 (White) has:
- A round body (female)
- Clearly visible and pronounced wrinkles around the eye (distinctly male from my research)
- A very light line that runs length ways over the underside that only turns dark during feeding (female???)
- Lighter / whiter coloration (female)

Puffer 2 (Yellow) has:
- A longer more slender body (male)
- An extremely dark, constantly pronounced line that runs length ways over the underside (distinctly male from my research)
- Zero indication of wrinkles around the eyes (female)
- Darker / yellow coloration (male)

My best hypothesis is that Puffer 1 is a male because his eye wrinkles are so distinct and vivid, he is unusually light in color for a male and he has the ability to make his ventral line nearly invisible when he is calm or hiding / resting. Puffer 2 is also a male that does not show any indication of eye wrinkles, all other characteristics seem to point to him being a male.

So I think I've got two Males, but they look completely different, which is throwing me off...

Are they fighting? 2 males will fight to the death.

Pufferpunk wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 5:38 pm Are they fighting? 2 males will fight to the death.

I housed to males together with no issues. It does sound like the OP does have two males from the descriptions given.

ONLY 2 males or also with some females?

Pufferpunk wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2020 2:44 pm ONLY 2 males or also with some females?

Just males.

Both with eye wrinkles? How large a tank?

Pufferpunk wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2020 5:24 pm Both with eye wrinkles? How large a tank?

Yes, both were about 1in. when I bought them. I housed them in a 29g Bowfront and then in a 40g BF.
I went to college in Greenville, 20yrs ago.

I moved here 5 years ago. What college?

Pufferpunk wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2020 5:30 pm I moved here 5 years ago. What college?

The Dr. Bob's