Pea puffer Terrorist..

[tai95]

mistakes happen.

we learn and move on with our lives.

Mistakes like that shouldn't happen though. A store that is supposed to be a trustworthy all knowing pet store shouldn't have false information posted on almost every fish they sell. Getting bad information from a worker is one thing, but when the company itself sends the bad information to be posted thats a problem. I know people should research before they buy a new fish, but if petsmart says it fine for these fish to be together why should you not trust them?

 

[Forevernight]

Looks like the platy may pull through, it spends alot of time hiding for now. It ate last night so I think it might be ok.

 

[plah831]

that's good news! if it's eating, then it may very well pull through, at least it still has the will to live. i'm glad you caught the puffer before he had a chance to inflict fatal damage.

 

[DaisyTattoo]

It's amazing that a large company specializing in "pets" can't get accurate information.

Maybe petsmart doesn't see them as "pets" and see them more of a "decoration" or "hobby" item.

Maybe we should start a petiton to petsmart to start putting accurate information on their fish. If they don't want to train their employees, fine, but at least post accurate info. My petsmart have pretty clean tanks and their fish always look healthy for the most part. I have never asked for any advice from them, so I can't tell you how they are in that department.

 

[TastierWay]

My petsmart has correct labeling on the goldfish. When I saw that, I almost pissed myself. That was AMAZING.

 

[plah831]

Maybe petsmart doesn't see them as "pets" and see them more of a "decoration" or "hobby" item.

Maybe we should start a petiton to petsmart to start putting accurate information on their fish. If they don't want to train their employees, fine, but at least post accurate info.

I think large stores mostly see animals as "inventory" that's expendable. Heck, if their customers' pets keep dying, they keep coming back to buy more, right?

The petition's a good idea. I've thought about telling the individual store to change their label, but it wouldn't do much good if that stuff is just handed out from Corporate.

 

[BowMaster]

I recently added two "pea puffers" to my 72g tank. I've got mostly Tetras, some Octocinclus, some Indian Flasher Barbs, a pile of Amano shrimp and a few Zebra snails.

I got the Puffers to handle my pond snail infestation. Well, I would have to say that they are one of the coolest little fish I have ever seen. I love them, they are fun to watch and they anneilated my snail problem. At best guess, I had hundreds of the little *******s. These puffers crushed the problem in less than two weeks.

Also, I have not noticed any nipping or chasing of any of my fish including the other puffer. They have occasionally been eyeing up my Zebra snails, but have had no luck with them. They seem pretty calm and don't really interact with the other fish at all. Mosly, they don't even venture from the bottom areas, except to investigate a snail. They also leave my Amano's alone as well and they are bottom dwellers.

They were actually recommended to me by a friend that has two aswell. She has alot of different fish, most small but has a lot of large Discus. She says they only chase each other around.

So, maybe we have a different breed. Or maybe it's because I have a heavily planted tank. But my friends tank is very sparsly planted. So, I have no reasonable explaination.

Here is a link to a website I just found. It is pretty comprehensive and explains of a more docile Pea puffer.

http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/detail.aspx?aid=20718&cid=4150&search=

Lyle

 

[plah831]

Lyle, consider yourself very lucky. It could be that the puffers are not mature yet, and when they hit sexual maturity the aggression is almost certain to follow. Most puffers are considered aggressive, and almost all are recommended for species-only tanks. The only one I can think of that is not, is the marine porcupinefish. Keep your fingers crossed, but have a tank ready to accomodate the puffers if they do indeed become fin nippers. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst, eh?

Good luck to ya

 

[webcricket]

My Petsmart has dwarf puffers labelled as "tropical community" as well. The lady who scooped my puffers out for me actually told me the sign was wrong and that they were aggressive - she wanted to be sure they were going in a species tank. Of course, I'd done my research already. She actually said they have to put in sign requests/changes at corporate and corporate doesn't necessarily think things need to be labelled correctly.

On the other hand I had another woman working there bagging a betta for me suggest that I get a common pleco (on sale) to live with the betta in a 2 gallon tank. It's hit or miss with the employees. It's best to do your own research before buying a new fish anyway.

 

[BowMaster]

Lyle, consider yourself very lucky. It could be that the puffers are not mature yet, and when they hit sexual maturity the aggression is almost certain to follow. Most puffers are considered aggressive, and almost all are recommended for species-only tanks. The only one I can think of that is not, is the marine porcupinefish. Keep your fingers crossed, but have a tank ready to accomodate the puffers if they do indeed become fin nippers. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst, eh?

Good luck to ya

Well, if it turns out that way I will donate them to someone. They were only $5 each so, I'm not concerned. But, with any luck they will destroy my snail populous and it's ability to reproduce. Hopefully before I have to send them packing. Thanks for the info though, I will definatily keep an eye on them.

Lyle