The Puffer Forum

I am looking for a variety of puffers. I have the misfortune of living in a land-locked backwards state that apparently has no imagination or compassion when it comes to fish keeping. (not bitter. )
What I am looking for is a website that is trusted that ships puffers, and has an assorted stock.
I would like to get:
1) 4-5 Colomesus asellus
2) 1 Tetraodon pustulatus
3) 1-2 Tetraodon miurus (RED)
- I'd like to see if I cant breed these....

I (of course) have ample tank room, and knowledge of/for taking care of these magnificent fish, I just have a hard time finding them. Any help in this would be appreciated.

Thanks-
Irish

hmmmm. If you happen to find a pustulatus, let me know1 These are very hard to find in the trade at all. I have also been looking for a good website that ships puffers as I am trying to find a Tetraodon fluviatilis and a place I can find a healthy lineatus. The only site I have found that has puffers in stock sometimes in http://www.aquariumfish.net , but I doubt they have what you are looking for.

I had no luck finding Colomesus Asellus online, but I called around to 8 LFS(s) and 1 of them had 6-8. Your best bet is to keep checking the website mentioned above. The other two I have no knowledge of.. maybe aquabid and get lucky?

I presume you are across the pond in the US but posting a location might help you.

HRPuffersnStuff wrote:If you happen to find a pustulatus, let me know

Aquarium Glaser (Rodgau, Germany) imported T. pustulatus in 2005 (?). However, I don't know if they have any left or if they ship to the USA. Anyway they'll be very pricey.

An lFS near me have a new contact and the guy was telling me he was pretty hopeful of getting some in.
Watch this space.

...and ensure they are no juvenile T. lineatus, because these two species are sometimes confused with each other. While T. pustulatus is rare and pricey. T. lineatus is not that rare and thus cheaper. T. pustulatus is said to be less aggressive, but preferably should be alone if you don't happen to have a 2000 l tank available.

I agree, Pustulatus is extremely rare, and extremely expensive, and even then, it may not even be the correct species.

SAP's are pretty seasonal, you'll see them around for a few months, then for a while you won't see them again. I believe PP got her red murius on Aquabid years ago.

And don't forget, breeding isn't easy. These fish are unsexable (from external differences at least) so you'd likely need to buy a bunch and hope for some to pair off. That's a LOT of tank space.

HRPuffersnStuff wrote:hmmmm. If you happen to find a pustulatus, let me know1 These are very hard to find in the trade at all. I have also been looking for a good website that ships puffers as I am trying to find a Tetraodon fluviatilis and a place I can find a healthy lineatus. The only site I have found that has puffers in stock sometimes in http://www.aquariumfish.net , but I doubt they have what you are looking for.

I have actually looked on that website and do have it marked as a favorite. The problem with them is that they never seem to have anything in stock. I do appreciate the thought, and if I do find what I am looking for, I will be sure to pass it on to you.

Irish

Rocker wrote:I presume you are across the pond in the US but posting a location might help you.

Oklahoma, USA
I know, I know....
I hate it too.......

jnheinz wrote:I had no luck finding Colomesus Asellus online, but I called around to 8 LFS(s) and 1 of them had 6-8. Your best bet is to keep checking the website mentioned above. The other two I have no knowledge of.. maybe aquabid and get lucky?

Where are you located? The LFS here are kinda......iffy.
There are two or three decent ones, but for some reason they cant seem to keep puffers coming in/ or staying alive.
One of them ordered a fahaka puffer for me. But it died before I could come and get it. (4 hours)

Myaj wrote:I agree, Pustulatus is extremely rare, and extremely expensive, and even then, it may not even be the correct species.

SAP's are pretty seasonal, you'll see them around for a few months, then for a while you won't see them again. I believe PP got her red murius on Aquabid years ago.

And don't forget, breeding isn't easy. These fish are unsexable (from external differences at least) so you'd likely need to buy a bunch and hope for some to pair off. That's a LOT of tank space.

It just so happens that I do have ALOT of tank space. All of my tanks (save 2) are currently empty just waiting to be filled again.
I am always very careful as to what I buy, and I make sure I get what I am paying for. Also, I do think that while expensive, Pustulatus, even juvenile would be very hard to mistake for a Fahaka. (But I could be wrong...)
I need to start watching aquabid apparently. I have never really been on it at all.........

Irish563 wrote:I do think that while expensive, Pustulatus, even juvenile would be very hard to mistake for a Fahaka. (But I could be wrong...)

Juvenile Fahaka look spotty and develop their distinctive lines later on, hence the often confusion where you think you're getting a Pustulatus and you're actually getting a Fahaka when they're young.

Have a look at (from aquaticpredators.com):



Not unlike an T. pustulatus, I'd say.
But look at an older specimen of the same species:



What do you think are characteristic traits to differentiate between T. lineatus and T. pustulatus?

Irish, I live in Minneapolis, MN.. Probably about 5 decent LFS(s) in the area, with about 5 others that aren't very good.. Only one of the ten had the SAP, the biggest renowned store here has GSPs, F8s, and a Tetraodon turgidus.. That was it, no Colomesus Asellus. You may have to travel a decent distance after calling around to various shops in Oklahoma.. I think trying to find a Colomesus Asellus online is really hard right now.. And you will pay dearly for them if you do.