Puffers
Contents:
- Faq
by laurence-at-Alice.Wonderland.Caltech.EDU (Dustin L. Laurence) (Mon, 21 Nov 94)
by laurence-at-Alice.Wonderland.Caltech.EDU (Dustin L. Laurence)
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 94
Erik,
Here is something that the FAQ revision team should look at, if the
effort is still alive. I could also archive it, if it isn't appropriate
for the FAQ. Just let me know what you would prefer to do with it.
Dustin
----- Begin Included Message -----
>From mengerin-at-cs.utexas.edu Thu Nov 17 10:29:06 1994
From: Matthew William Mengerink <mengerin-at-cs.utexas.edu>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 1994 12:26:17 -0600
To: laurence-at-cco.caltech.edu
Subject: FAQ info
Reply-To: mengerin-at-cs.utexas.edu
Content-Length: 3300
Hello,
Someone recommended sending you this info on the puffers that
I wrote. Here it is... modify at will.
Cheers,
Matthew
In response to someone's question...
---------------------------------------------
The Tetradoan Nigrifilis:
Previously called Tetradoan Fluviatilis
Commonly known as the "Spotted Puffer"
As a friend once mentioned, these are one of the few fish that have a person
declare "cute" as the appropriate adjective for them.
I will not claim to be a biological expert in this area but here is what I
know of their care:
pH : Above 7.4 is ideal. High is good.
Temp : 78-82 preferred
Salinity : Brackish (tbs per gallon). Can live in fresh but should not be
adjusted to full marine. They do not do nearly as well in fresh
as in brackish
Terrain : Prefer a low level of water with lots of room. An ideal tank is
a 40 long with lots of cave like structures, fine substrate,
perhaps a sandy area for swimming and viewing.
Food : Live is preferred. Frozen brine shrimp or blood worms are suitable.
Most puffers will accept freeze dried bloodworms or the like.
In the wild they eat crustaceans and snails. Supplementing the
puffers with snails or live ghost shrimp is a very good idea. Their
teeth are developed for chewing threw snail shell, and their are
reports of people having to trim the teeth of their puffers which
are not fed hard foods.
Size : 4-7 inches. 5 is common in aquaria.
Disposition:
The spotted puffers are able to be kept with other fish while young.
This of course is limited to mates that can live in a saline environment. The
problem is that when the've grown, they have a tendancy to think of anything
not a puffer as a food item. At just about any stage in their development if
their tank mate is smaller than they are, they are most likely going to eat it.
There are of course exceptions to all rules, but breaking this one yields an "I
told you so." I've seen spotted puffers kept with Monos and Scats. The
puffers were always quite small.
Puffers will live with each other fairly well. However, keep in mind
that at any moment they are able to take one another out. It is in their
nature not to kill one another, but if they are fighting for food, or
particularly cranky on that day, then you've lost a fish.
Finally, note that the temperament of puffers only worsens over time.
Some will not tolerate anything else in the tank once they've gotten older.
Puffers are *extremely* hardy and thus are more apt to suffer abuse.
Getting advice on puffers is difficult due to their hardiness. Some will give
you a line like, "Well I keep my puffer in acidic fresh water, and he does
fine." Please ignore these people.
Overall, I would only recommend the spotted puffer for those that
enjoy a minimalist species tank. Otherwise, enjoy them at the store.
If one enjoys their swimming style, body shape, and curiosity, but
wants tank mates, then go for the Tetradoan S....... (darn!, I can't remember
the name, it is like Sartogous or some such. It is a totally fresh water
type which enjoys all tank mates *EXCEPT* other puffers; if you really want
the name, mail me and I'll look it up for you).
Happy Tanking,
Matthew-at-fish.weird.me.out
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