Does sg HAVE to be 1.005 for puffers?

[beviking]

The lfs typically carries F8's and Spotted River Puffers. These are considered "dwarfs" right? In the wild, the salinity fluctuates (as I'm sure it does with water changes) but I'd like to keep a few Java Ferns maybe moss too. Can the puffers be kept at a lower sg? Of course the lfs says they are freshwater (but we know that is only as juveniles).

Any advice on keeping the two species together? I missed the opp to p/u a 44g pentagon for the 3-4 puffers my wife wants so I'm still looking for the tank. WHAT?! I STILL CAN'T believe it, my wife WANTS a tan.........................k! Oh sorry, I think I had another mild stroke! 1st one happened when she told me "maybe we could get another tan........k", sorry, happened again!:eek: :D

[cdawson]

Well first off these species are not "dwarves" and the Green spotted puffer (NOT the spotted congo puffer, do not refer to puffernet for info it's very inaccurate) is very aggressive in nature and not suited for anything other than species only tank in at least 30g per GSP.
The figure eight at a little smaller will require a 20g and same goes for it, species only.

As for the SG, 1.005 is nowhere near high enough for both species. For the GSP you'll need is between 1.015-1.023 at full marine when they're adults.
For the figure eight you'll need the SG between 1.010 to 1.015.

As for the info you got on dwarves, it's an actual species that may be a little more suited for your wife. They are strictly FW and reach a max size of 1.5". However as all puffers do, they require a strict diet of snails.

[Pufferpunk]

F8s are fine at 1.005-10.

[cdawson]

ok... which is it? first I say 1.008-1.015 and then you say "1.010-1.015". now you say "1.005-1.010 will be fine":shake:

[Pufferpunk]

You're wrong... Go back & look at my posts.

[RTR]

I've never pushed the Figure 8 puffers as high as that, so I cannot say. But I can say that they do not need to be beyond 1.005-1.010 specific gravity to live long and healthy and colorful lives.

GSPs I strongly suspect need significantly higher specific gravity to hold their color, and likely their long-term health.

The Figure 8 puffers are small for the family, but they are not dwarf.

To me, something labelled "spotted river puffer" should be a Spotted Congo puffer, but they are quite uncommon in the trade.

[beviking]

From here...
http://www.pufferfish.co.uk/aquaria/species/pufferfish/types/tetrnigr.htm

I see that the spotted puffer (T. nigrifilis) is not the Green Spotted Puffer or the Green Puffer. Or is that the same fish for all listed to the right? I think, given this statement from RTR from another thread...
"but you can see a decent pic of a young fish at
http://www.pufferfish.co.uk/aquaria...types/index.htm
under the listing for Tetraodon nigrifilis - even the good sites have confusion on names." ...it will be a while b4 getting a puffer.

The 12/02 issue of Aq.Fish magazine calls T. nigroviridis the Spotted River Puffer. Of course, the article is titled "Freshwater Puffers" and list several species including the F8, congo, and green.

What about T. shoutedeni? Could this be what the lfs is calling spotted river puffer? I'll have to investigate further...

As for snails, I already have a plant and snail only tank. I'm feeding extra in anticipation of this little gem (whichever one it is)eventually residing in my home!

cdawson, when you say "more suited for your wife", you don't actually think she is going to take care of it do you? The day she says that, I WILL have a heart attack!:D

[cdawson]

Originally posted by beviking
From here...
http://www.pufferfish.co.uk/aquaria/species/pufferfish/types/tetrnigr.htm

I see that the spotted puffer (T. nigrifilis) is not the Green Spotted Puffer or the Green Puffer. Or is that the same fish for all listed to the right? I think, given this statement from RTR from another thread...
"but you can see a decent pic of a young fish at
http://www.pufferfish.co.uk/aquaria...types/index.htm
under the listing for Tetraodon nigrifilis - even the good sites have confusion on names." ...it will be a while b4 getting a puffer.

The 12/02 issue of Aq.Fish magazine calls T. nigroviridis the Spotted River Puffer. Of course, the article is titled "Freshwater Puffers" and list several species including the F8, congo, and green.



As far as puffer articles go, this one should be dragged out ot pasture and put out of it's misery.
It got me to buy my GSP originally and now looking back didn't really have any useful info at all in it. I read all 5 pages of the article and when I looked GSPs up on the net I learned more in 30 seconds than I did reading that entire article.

[Pufferpunk]

Agreed, I wasn't thrilled w/that article either. I just found out that an article I recently wrote about GSPs will be published in FAMA. The bad news is, you'll have to wait 'till then to see it, as they have 1st publishing rights to it. Too bad, I was hoping to save folks some grief as soon as possible. The main reason for my writing it, is to clear up the spotted puffer ID confusion. I highly doubt you have a shoutedeni. They are rarely seen in the aquarium trade. Green spotted puffers have been sold under countless common names. Just add Spotted River Puffer to the list.

To tell the difference, shoutedeni have visible long spines on it's belly, the GSP does not. GSPs do have spines, but barely visible by the naked eye.

[RTR]

beviking - On the question about the lists at the immediate right of the pictures on Ian's site under the bold "Spotted Puffer", those are names all being or having been applied to that same fish, some incorrectly, some correctly. That is the fish most often refered to as the GSP, Green Spotted Puffer, and most currently named Tetraodon nigroviridis.

cdawson - The referenced issue of AFM was an embarrassment to the hobby, even if was done by a buddy of PP's, it was awful and at least 20 years out of date. I suspect that they needed a filler and the author pulled some old files without any research on current status of the fish or current personal experience either.

[Pufferpunk]

even if was done by a buddy of PP's

Huh? I don't know the guy. At least he got T nigroviridis & fluviatilis right.

[cdawson]

Originally posted by RTR
beviking - On the question about the lists at the immediate right of the pictures on Ian's site under the bold "Spotted Puffer", those are names all being or having been applied to that same fish, some incorrectly, some correctly. That is the fish most often refered to as the GSP, Green Spotted Puffer, and most currently named Tetraodon nigroviridis.

cdawson - The referenced issue of AFM was an embarrassment to the hobby, even if was done by a buddy of PP's, it was awful and at least 20 years out of date. I suspect that they needed a filler and the author pulled some old files without any research on current status of the fish or current personal experience either.

Tell me about it, that whole magazine is an embarrassment to the hobby, however it's the only readily available aquarium magazine in my area. I don't get a chance to get out the store that regularily has FAMA. however, when I do and I have the extra cash I pick up the issues that I missed.

It's a shame really, I picked up 100 issues of AFM and FAMA from the early 90's and late 80's for 50 cents at a garage sale (HUGE steal!) and AFM could actually compete in terms of accurate info and knowledgeable writers. Now it's just buy this! buy that! and 100 pages of marineland adds.
It's embarassing when one of their writers works with the vancouver aquarium.
:(

[RTR]

OOPS! My bad PP, confused two people, grovel, grovel, grovel. I'll tell you about sometime.

[Pufferpunk]

LOL! Groveling doesn't become you, Robert!

[beviking]

Well, it's a good thing my subscription ran out! I was pretty cerain after the first few issues that I wasn't going to re-subscribe b/c of conflicting info I read in them. :eek: There's a surprise! I suppose I'll have to search for a reliable magazine. I was thinking TFH but what is FAMA? I have to admit, I rely more on info from here than magazines so haven't looked into them too much.

Thanks for the clarification everyone!

Oh, cdawson, when you're done with those mags, I'll buy them off you for a buck!:D

[cdawson]

Never! I'm taking these magazines to my grave!:D

[beviking]

Well, I already have a shovel so I'll save my buck and bid my time!

:D