The Puffer Forum

OK so I found this LFS that I've driven past a few times but never went in as it looked dodgy as, I was nearby so i walked in, typical scenario, gold fish, but lo and behold I found a few small marine fish, and to my shock and utter horror found an adult puffer in the most algae infested tank with another marine fish! First was my shock of actually finding a puffer like that in a LFS it was the Tetractenos Glaber, but the fact that it wasn't moving, its eyes were cloudy, its whole entire tail fin was gone!

I called the women (who couldn't speak much english) and said "do you get them often? he looks like he is dying, his whole tale is gone and he looks blind"!

i didn't know what to do really, i wanted to rescue him but it was in vain as I do not have a marine tank and it looked like it was on its last leg.

Are there rules and regulations concerning fish stores? I mean how can they possibly have fish, let alone marine fish in such a state as they had!!!! It was truly appalling and I needed another hydrometer, but refused to purchase it from there.

I just can't understand how someone who owns a fish store can not give a s**t about the state of the fish!

Contact your state Department of Natural Resources and file a complaint.

Or the Humane Society.

Amazing what rare puffers (at least in other parts of the world) are sold in your area.

Too bad they are treated that way.

There are no real federal guidelines that govern the live fish trade. Your state may have laws on the subject, but I doubt it. The humane society in my area is worthless, hopefully yours is better. Michigan's DNR is also worthless. We can't count on them for anything productive. It's sad to say, but I'm afraid there isn't much you can do. I would talk to as many people as possible about the horrid conditions at the LFS. Ethical individuals will eventually refuse to go there so long as you talk to them.

Letters to the editor of the newspaper might work, especially in a smaller town. No one wants that kind of publicity.

great idea boxermom

I was talking to a guy from another aquarium who keeps mostly marine fish, I simply went there to see the puffers they had there, they had a dog face puffer, and another puffer, I cannot identify. Apparently the unknown puffer is not found in Australian waters, however it somehow got there! So it was selling for $350AUD (roughly $280US)! I wanted to take him home, but obviously couldn't! I'm even thinking about buying another tank just for him! They said that he probably won't sell as he is very aggressive and u would need a tank just for him, so they will probably give him to the Melbourne aquarium, coz that's what they usually do.

Maybe you guys can help, it was completely black with small white dots all over. It was quite large, roughly 30-40cm. I cannot find it in the pufferpedia, but if I saw a pic of it I could definitely identify it.

Anyways back to the topic, he said that there are no really strict regulations, and if the RSPCA or inspectors do inspect, they don't know squat about fish anyway to even be able to judge if they are being treated well or not. Regardless, the Tetractenos Glaber was in such bad shape that even a child would know that it was sick :\

Yes reporting to a local paper might help! boxermom I will definitely look into it!

Corvas, yes we have many different species here that aren't very common overseas, however we cannot get sooo many freshwater/brackish puffers, such as the GSP, SAP, Fahaka's, Mbu's, Congos, etc.

I take that back I can identify him! Its the Arothron meleagris aka Guineafowl Puffer. Hmm once again it seems like a rare species....i didn't recognise him in the pufferpedia as the image had such a blue tinge lol

Oh thats the puffer from Reeflections! I love him, he is really amazing to watch. Its sad that he is stuck in that tank though. He has been there for about a month now I think, his price has been reduced from $450 to $350.
The guys are good at that LFS though, they wont let him get too sick, i guess they will have to donate it..... maybe to me ... im sure i could find room to put a 6ft tank somewhere...

LOL Bonnie, yes that's the one! They have awesome fish there! Yeah its a same he's stuck in that tiny tank, but I guess they don't have much of a choice...the Melb Aquarium would look after him I'm sure, but $24 to visit him each time is out of the question!

Yeah I am really considering getting a tank for him and would try to talk the puffer down to at least $250, they probably would coz no one else would buy him! However my bf is like so against it and said to "get over it", but u know its always in the back of your mind lol...I can put it in my bedroom, but hmmm yeah we are renting and to move a tank, esp a SW one in future would be the biggest pain!

They are pretty on the ball at Reeflections, however I bought like one of those brewers hydrometers which they had at $20, I said "hmm $20? I got one for only $12.95 at Amazing Amazon" so he gave it to me for $12.95 I mean $20 for something I will probably break in 2 weeks...c'mon lol!!