Help Identify My New Puffer

[lostcrow]

Hello all:

Today I bought a puffer, allegedly a Figure 8, from a LFS. I've had a fascination with puffers for a a few years now, and have seen more than my fair share of F8's and Green Spotted Puffers, since they seem to be the common fare at LFSs. Anyway, this fish is approx 3-4 inches long, has a mottled green coloration, vaguely resembling a F8, but has an orange saddle over his midsection (orange oblong ring surrounding black) and an orange circle surrounding black on his tail. Any thoughts? I was told he was kept in light brackish and confirmed this at home (SG 1.0015). My concern is that I will condition and place him in the wrong water conditions. I have enough tanks at various conditions to accommodate whatever he prefers, but obviously I need to identify him first.

I found a fish with his orange markings on the front of the following book at Amazon. It is the large picture in the center. I also attached two pictures I took with my cell phone.

http/www.amazon.com/Aqualog-Puffers-Fres...4970&sr=1-1

Thanks in advance

Greg

 

[Fella]

It's Takifugu ocellatus. i had a pair for 24hours. They're described in literature as well behaved, but they were monsters. Keep at lower temperature with a sand substrate and feed meaty foods.

As for salinity, go for nearer sea water than freshwater. 1.012 is a good SG I'd have thought.

 

[Mr._Fishy]

Be sure to keep it in a cooler environment with a lot of oxygen and a lower salinity (1.010 or so).

I would think nmonks knows something about this fish. I would pm him or wait for his reply.

 

[lostcrow]

It's Takifugu ocellatus. i had a pair for 24hours. They're described in literature as well behaved, but they were monsters. Keep at lower temperature with a sand substrate and feed meaty foods.

As for salinity, go for nearer sea water than freshwater. 1.012 is a good SG I'd have thought.

Thanks! I did some brief reading and it seems they don't do well in captivity....and their specific parameters have yet to be worked out, which is probably why they don't do well in captivity. Right now he is in with a young GSP and a Knight Goby (at 1.007), but he is too interested in his reflection to even notice the other fish, though my GSP has taken a, perhaps un-fond, interest in him, which is strange given how painfully shy the GSP is. We'll see how it turns out. Thanks again for the ID.

Greg

 

[nmonks]

As Fella has said, this is Takifugu ocellatus, a subtropical freshwater/brackish pufferfish from East Asia. Its natural habitat is estuaries, and middling salinity appears to be preferred.

The reason it fails in aquaria is almost certainly excessive heat/insufficient oxygen. If the aquarium isn't kept somewhere cool, a chiller may be required during the summer. Certainly you want to avoid the tank going above 18 degrees C. Likes to dig, so provide sand and avoid using anything "sharp" in the aquarium that might scratch the fish and allow secondary infections to set in. I'd recommend a mix of silica and coral sand.

Cheers, Neale