Dwarf Puffer Fish!

mandelyn82 · 07-21-2008, 07:12 AM

Did you guys know there's a freshwater puffer fish?? I saw them at Walmart and went home to research them. Poor things!

They need sand because they have sensitive skin.. walmart has them on rock substrate!

They need a little bit of salt in the water, like any fish, to be healthy.

They hate each other and they're difficult to breed and they're way aggressive as they mature... walmart has them stuffed in the tank together!

You have to catch them in a net, then into a glass, so that they're always in water. If they puff out they'll die because of the sensitive skin, the valves that control the puff, and the pressure of the tank water... something about it causes the valves to lock up.

I was thinking about getting a little 5 gallon tank for my desk and "rescuing" one of the little guys to see if I can't keep it alive.

If I can with that sensitive fish, I might try a 30 gallon salt water tank. Maybe 50 gallons, I heard bigger is easier.

My Jack's are showing breeding behavior though since I got the lights fixed... so I might need to get a grow-out tank for babies.

The Red Belly Pacus are growing stupidly fast... I had no idea. They'll be 20 inches in no time. Bought them at 2-3 inches a month and a half ago and now they're up to 5 inches. I can almost visually see them growing by the minute!!!

So I might have to use the 30 gallon for the Jack's, keep just the Pacus in the big tank, and rehome the Red Devils because they seem to be males that dislike each other. I can't tell though... sometimes they act like they're flirting, then they fight, then they team up and chase some others, then they hide from each other. When they go in the bucket for tank cleaning, they cling to each other. They seem to have a thinking brain, they're neat.

But those Pacus are growing so fast, I can't get over it. So don't buy one unless you have a 60 gallon+ tank!! Or be prepared to trade it in for a small one every so often... like every 6 months from how they seem to be growing. They keep this up and they'll end up in the baby pool out in the garage.

Wonder if my husband will let me have a 100 gallon..... Seems I have atleast one female and two males... that means they'll breed... all those fast growing babies will need quite the grow-out tank.

Carri · 07-21-2008, 07:36 AM

Poor little puffer fish...

You should definitely rescue one!

You have Pacus?

They bite! Hard!

paso_lover · 07-21-2008, 07:54 AM

Darn it

wish you were closer cuz I have an 80 gallon tank (and filter)I have to get rid off. Too much moisture in the house from it and now we have mould around the windows

Sorry I know nothing about the puffer fish, just that they are agressive and need brackish water.

mandelyn82 · 07-21-2008, 07:57 AM

They also panic when you catch them, so they go in a styrofoam cooler lined with a garbage bag during tank cleaning... they can bang their foreheads into that as much as they want. The garbage bag makes an air cushion between it and the styrofoam for them to slam into.

They haven't bitten me, and they haven't killed anyone but feeder fish. I'm mildly surprised that I don't have more aggression with the mix I have, but so far so good. The Pacus get along, they respect the giant Jack, the Jack only chases his girls, and the red Devils, being the smallest, are the only ones who chase anyone else... which is silly, because they end up running. I think I have my sizes good, until the Pacus get giant... they may catch up to those mean Red Devils and get tired of being charged.

Sometime this week I'm going to go pick up a 9 inch Pleco sucker fish... she also had one that's a foot long... but he's way too big with how much rock I have.

mandelyn82 · 07-21-2008, 08:02 AM

There's different species of the frsh water Puffer... the one I'm looking at likes a clean water on the salty side. There's also a Brackish one, and there's also some others... here I thought they were salt water only.. which is why I was confused about seeing them at walmart.

I'd love to get ahold of that tank Paso!!

BBT2T5 · 07-21-2008, 08:25 AM

Interesting, I was once in a pet shop and they were changing a puffer from a salt water to fresh water fish. They claimed that you can do this but have a few steps to follow to have success. Who knew? Can't wait for the pics of your new puffers.

Lady_MCSE · 07-21-2008, 08:32 AM

When I worked in a pest store, we kept those types of puffers in a tank with black mollies. Mollies also like some salt in the water - we called it brackish, but I don't recall what the actual levels of salt were. For some reason I THINK it was 3 tablespoons of salt per 10gallons, but don't quote me on that.

Money saving tip - Kosher salt is the same as "aquarium salt," which is basically salt processed without iodine being added. So go buy yourself a big bag of kosher instead of spending the outrageous amount they'll want to charge you for aquarium salt at the pest store.

merleliz · 07-21-2008, 08:57 AM

I'm sure you already know this, as you seem far more knowledgable about fish than I am for sure, but you did know that they are one of the most poisonous species in the world? I read something about them once, and they have a poison called tetradoxin (sp?) that is really deadly, can kill humans in a heartbeat. I think that is from eating them, which you probably aren't planning on doing, LOL, but I thought I might mention it just in case, if your other fish ate them, would it kill them? And I believe somewhere I read that the skin is poisonous? Don't know for sure, but you might want to check it out!

grullatobiano · 07-21-2008, 09:15 AM

merleliz, are you sure that's these little dwarfs? The saltwater variety are exactly as you say, very toxic, although specific parts can be eaten safely. Puffer fish is a delicacy in Japan, and can/is only be prepared by the most talented sushi chefs.

I had two of the little brackish water dwarf puffers...they were not hardy. Their lacy little fins couldn't keep up with the current generated by my filter. One died after a few days, and the other one kind of went crazy when his friend died.

I am not a fish expert, they were too tricky for me. My tetras and dwarf frogs lasted forever! Much lower maintenance.

matashray · 07-21-2008, 09:49 AM

AWW..........poor little puffer fish

grullatobiano · 07-21-2008, 09:56 AM

I know. I was sad. I researched them and tried to change up the tank, but to no avail. There is also the possibility that they were sick when I got them. Pet store fish have been kind of hit or miss from this particular place.

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07-21-2008, 07:12 AM
mandelyn82 Coming two Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ft. Campbell, KY Posts: 1,962	Dwarf Puffer Fish! Did you guys know there's a freshwater puffer fish?? I saw them at Walmart and went home to research them. Poor things! They need sand because they have sensitive skin.. walmart has them on rock substrate! They need a little bit of salt in the water, like any fish, to be healthy. They hate each other and they're difficult to breed and they're way aggressive as they mature... walmart has them stuffed in the tank together! You have to catch them in a net, then into a glass, so that they're always in water. If they puff out they'll die because of the sensitive skin, the valves that control the puff, and the pressure of the tank water... something about it causes the valves to lock up. I was thinking about getting a little 5 gallon tank for my desk and "rescuing" one of the little guys to see if I can't keep it alive. If I can with that sensitive fish, I might try a 30 gallon salt water tank. Maybe 50 gallons, I heard bigger is easier. My Jack's are showing breeding behavior though since I got the lights fixed... so I might need to get a grow-out tank for babies. The Red Belly Pacus are growing stupidly fast... I had no idea. They'll be 20 inches in no time. Bought them at 2-3 inches a month and a half ago and now they're up to 5 inches. I can almost visually see them growing by the minute!!! So I might have to use the 30 gallon for the Jack's, keep just the Pacus in the big tank, and rehome the Red Devils because they seem to be males that dislike each other. I can't tell though... sometimes they act like they're flirting, then they fight, then they team up and chase some others, then they hide from each other. When they go in the bucket for tank cleaning, they cling to each other. They seem to have a thinking brain, they're neat. But those Pacus are growing so fast, I can't get over it. So don't buy one unless you have a 60 gallon+ tank!! Or be prepared to trade it in for a small one every so often... like every 6 months from how they seem to be growing. They keep this up and they'll end up in the baby pool out in the garage. Wonder if my husband will let me have a 100 gallon..... Seems I have atleast one female and two males... that means they'll breed... all those fast growing babies will need quite the grow-out tank. __________________ "The more people I meet the more I love my German Shepherd"

07-21-2008, 07:36 AM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	Poor little puffer fish... You should definitely rescue one! You have Pacus? They bite! Hard! __________________

07-21-2008, 07:54 AM
paso_lover Seasoned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sudbury Ontario Canada Posts: 4,546	Darn it wish you were closer cuz I have an 80 gallon tank (and filter)I have to get rid off. Too much moisture in the house from it and now we have mould around the windows Sorry I know nothing about the puffer fish, just that they are agressive and need brackish water. __________________ "I wish I was half the rider she thinks she is" \"Some people feel compelled to cut off the heads of others in order to make themselves appear taller\" ---Paramahansa Yoginanda

07-21-2008, 07:57 AM
mandelyn82 Coming two Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ft. Campbell, KY Posts: 1,962	They also panic when you catch them, so they go in a styrofoam cooler lined with a garbage bag during tank cleaning... they can bang their foreheads into that as much as they want. The garbage bag makes an air cushion between it and the styrofoam for them to slam into. They haven't bitten me, and they haven't killed anyone but feeder fish. I'm mildly surprised that I don't have more aggression with the mix I have, but so far so good. The Pacus get along, they respect the giant Jack, the Jack only chases his girls, and the red Devils, being the smallest, are the only ones who chase anyone else... which is silly, because they end up running. I think I have my sizes good, until the Pacus get giant... they may catch up to those mean Red Devils and get tired of being charged. Sometime this week I'm going to go pick up a 9 inch Pleco sucker fish... she also had one that's a foot long... but he's way too big with how much rock I have. __________________ "The more people I meet the more I love my German Shepherd"

07-21-2008, 08:02 AM
mandelyn82 Coming two Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ft. Campbell, KY Posts: 1,962	There's different species of the frsh water Puffer... the one I'm looking at likes a clean water on the salty side. There's also a Brackish one, and there's also some others... here I thought they were salt water only.. which is why I was confused about seeing them at walmart. I'd love to get ahold of that tank Paso!! __________________ "The more people I meet the more I love my German Shepherd"

07-21-2008, 08:25 AM
BBT2T5 Coming two Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Naperville, Illinois Posts: 1,956	Interesting, I was once in a pet shop and they were changing a puffer from a salt water to fresh water fish. They claimed that you can do this but have a few steps to follow to have success. Who knew? Can't wait for the pics of your new puffers.

07-21-2008, 08:32 AM
Lady_MCSE Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 3,502	When I worked in a pest store, we kept those types of puffers in a tank with black mollies. Mollies also like some salt in the water - we called it brackish, but I don't recall what the actual levels of salt were. For some reason I THINK it was 3 tablespoons of salt per 10gallons, but don't quote me on that. Money saving tip - Kosher salt is the same as "aquarium salt," which is basically salt processed without iodine being added. So go buy yourself a big bag of kosher instead of spending the outrageous amount they'll want to charge you for aquarium salt at the pest store. __________________ Yes I can spell the way Webster tells me to. But why? I might spell correctly Tuesday thru Wensday tho.

07-21-2008, 08:57 AM
merleliz Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fairburn, Georgia Posts: 1,183	I'm sure you already know this, as you seem far more knowledgable about fish than I am for sure, but you did know that they are one of the most poisonous species in the world? I read something about them once, and they have a poison called tetradoxin (sp?) that is really deadly, can kill humans in a heartbeat. I think that is from eating them, which you probably aren't planning on doing, LOL, but I thought I might mention it just in case, if your other fish ate them, would it kill them? And I believe somewhere I read that the skin is poisonous? Don't know for sure, but you might want to check it out!

07-21-2008, 09:15 AM
grullatobiano Weanling Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Red Deer Posts: 288	merleliz, are you sure that's these little dwarfs? The saltwater variety are exactly as you say, very toxic, although specific parts can be eaten safely. Puffer fish is a delicacy in Japan, and can/is only be prepared by the most talented sushi chefs. I had two of the little brackish water dwarf puffers...they were not hardy. Their lacy little fins couldn't keep up with the current generated by my filter. One died after a few days, and the other one kind of went crazy when his friend died. I am not a fish expert, they were too tricky for me. My tetras and dwarf frogs lasted forever! Much lower maintenance.

07-21-2008, 09:49 AM
matashray Newborn Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 29	AWW..........poor little puffer fish

07-21-2008, 09:56 AM
grullatobiano Weanling Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Red Deer Posts: 288	I know. I was sad. I researched them and tried to change up the tank, but to no avail. There is also the possibility that they were sick when I got them. Pet store fish have been kind of hit or miss from this particular place.