The Puffer Forum

I feed my Polypeterus's Earthworm and was thinking for my Puffer. Is this wise?

Can't see any reason why your puffer shouldn't take them. How do you ensure you get them from a pesticide free source, I have no chance of that round here.

Also what Bichir's do you have, I picked up an ornate a few weeks ago, he's great they're Very interesting fish.

I am using my own compost heap so i can make sure. I also breed snails as i have clown loaches of 7 inches and growing plus 2 Megladorus irwinii's (snail eating cat) + the Puffer, so plenty of snails needed.

I specialize in the polypterus and have 4 species.

Palmas Palmas
Palmas Poli
Delhezi
senegalas.

I did have a Lapradei and a ornatipinnis but they just got too big.
The combination i have will not grow more than about 15 inches .
The ornate ( ornatipinnis you are looking at 60cm+ and comes from the congo basin , angola,camaroon.
Its a stung fish and are fairly active but 60 cm is the second biggest poly to the endlicherii (saddle back) at 80cm+ and they grow fast.

They where around before the Dinosaurs and survived because of their ability to walk over land, they also have a terrific sense of smell and will eat anything , with this combination and able to live in murky and very low oxygenated water its no surprise that they where around 100 million years ago.
Hope you enjoy him.

My Ornate is about 8 inches now in my 90g, he will be moved up to a much larger tank by the time he hits 16". I'm thinking a few choice specimens in a 210-240g, definitely an Asian Arowana, probably a Royal Panaque Pleco and maybe a few others, haven't fully decided yet.

The Ornate will do me fine, it's a striking looking fish, it's markings are beautiful, i'm not really a fan of the Endlicheri I just dont like the way it looks to the others, although I would like a Delhezi also, perhaps in time.

Polys are very temperamental like puffers. You can get an aggressive one or a placid one. And don't be fooled by his daytime mood its his nigh time hunting when it can change.
Some will accept other poly's but i had a birchir that attacked any other poly and i had to separate it.
If you want to introduce another one do it when they are of similar size this usually works but like most predators in the Animal kingdom there is a pecking order until it is challenged after say a year or so and that could spell trouble.
Still enjoy, just keep an eye on that second one if you stick it in with him

I have heard that Ornates can be aggressive to conspecifics, I have read of success with mixing different species but airing on the side of caution I wont risk it in the same tank.

Thanks for the info.

The Aquarium in Houston has a tank full of bichirs of varying species and sizes. Some were pencile thin, and a few others looked as thick as my arm.

My GSP eats primarily earthworms, they seem to be healthy and he relishes them.

Apocalyptictoast wrote:The Aquarium in Houston has a tank full of bichirs of varying species and sizes. Some were pencile thin, and a few others looked as thick as my arm.

And so do i.