The Puffer Forum

Hi. I got a chance to get one or maybe a couple of them.

I would love to have a couple of them in seperate tanks, but I'm not really too sure of their maximum size.

I would get a couple of them if their max size is at 5".
But if they really do get to a ft long, then I would only get one, since I don't want to compromise of the tank size.

Also, I read at PufferPedia that they are semi-lurking piscivores. That means that I can feed them fish meat as a staple? Or will it be better for me to stick to crustaceans as a staple? It's just as easy for me to get either source of food.

Finally, is there a slightest clue as to how I can sex them? Or would I have to leave it all to luck?

Thanks!

It seems 4-5" is the norm. There appears to be rare reports of them growing larger. Mine haven't grown much since I got them, they're about 5" not counting tail.

Crustaceans should still be their staple.

No, there's no reliable way to sex them. Some think that the males are hairier than the females, and that's what I'm operating on, but really there's no way to tell. I keep mine in a 55g tank but there's a divider in the center to keep them from having issues. The couple of times I've tried putting them together, I wasn't sure if they were doing a mating dance or aggression stance, so I keep the barrier in place. That goes along with the young lady that had them before me, she said they were very aggressive towards each other and a third that she had them with.

Thanks for the quick reply.
Then it looks like I'll be getting two of them if my budget permits. I haven't really asked for their price. Just a rough estimate.

Since you do have experience with them, can you tell me if they beg for food?

I've since a couple of adult baileyi which will not chase their food. They just sit there and wait till the prey swims over their mouth. Just like the T. miurus.

How long have you had yours? Do they get hairier with age, or do they lose their cirri as they age? Or are they just determined genetically?

Thanks for your valuable inputs.

baileyi are not know n to beg for food but others my say different.
I only feed mine once a week and sometimes that is too much.
Not sure about them getting hairier or less with age. Not had it long enough to tell you. Mine hasn't changed in the two + years I have had him.

Mine haven't gotten any hairier but I've only had them for less than a year. Lil begs for food daily. Phil doesn't, he just lays around like a lumpy potato until he hears the top open. Then he'll look up and if its food, he'll swim up to eat, then goes back to his usual spot to lay around some more. I feed once every 4 days. I have learned to limit how much I offer. If I offer a whole medium size shrimp, they'll eat the entire thing which is too much for them. So I have to cut it in half and only offer what I want them to eat.

Mine has, I think, become noticibly hairyer over the time I've had "him" (since October). He's about 4" at the moment. He had very few hairs when I got him (just round his chin), but now looks more like he has a nice beard, and also hair down his sides.

"He" doesn't beg for food, but If I go up to the glass, he rams me very aggressively but won't touch me when my hands in the tank.

Hi bsplenden,
Looks like you would be snapping up those that CF brought in huh? have not visited yet, so have no idea of how they are doing. I bought mine from them in Sep '05. Hammie is doing great in his tank, gave him lots of places to hide but also have quite a fair amount of water current in the tank (External Filter rainbar + 1 small power head)
It spends most of his time hiding in his favourite caves but swims out to stare at the front of the tank once in awhile. Knows instinctively when food is introduced, and hunts down the few live shrimps I give it once in awhile. Efficient killer it is... have not fed live fish before... thinking of breeding some guppies... Otherwise a very attractive fish!!

I know you would enjoy them!!

Cheers & Happy CNY!!!
Jason

Yup! I'd be getting those from CF.

Hope things will turn out fine this time round.

Have seen your tank setup for Hammie. Looks great!

What is the staple that you have been feeding Hammie with?

Staple would be Shrimp and BW... In the process of breeding another batch of snails... I asked the CF guys about the fish... it costs slightly more than what I paid for Hammie... They have 3 in stock right?

They have 2 adults and 2 juveniles.

But CF won't be open for the next couple of days cos of Chinese New Year.

I'll most probably be picking up the juveniles. More kick to watch them grow.

But one of the big guy is super aggressive.

Remember to Post Pics then!!
Guess you are already cycling their tanks?

They'll be in the same tank with a tank divider since they are still small. (If I'm getting two)
And ! The tank has been cycled already.

But pics have got to wait though... I got to get my camera back from my cousins.

Hi! I've gotten the fish a week back and it's doing real well!

This bugger does beg for food, and I'll have to admit that I've been overfeeding it.

I've promised myself to cut down on its feeding.

I'm feeding it with cut up pieces of prawns. Also fed occasionally with a feeder fish.

It is about 2.5" long and I'm thinking it's still too small for a live crayfish.
And I'm also having no luck with breeding some apple snails.

How I wish I can get my camera back and share some pictures!

Everytime you get the urge to overfeed, just remember that you're cutting its life short. That should help stop the urge. Does for me anyway.

I've never had any luck with breeding apple snails and have difficulty with most other types, too. But ponds and ramshorns are much easier and faster to breed IMO than apples.

BM do baileyis need snails?