Problems with breeding puffers...

Lila

Lila

Boston!
Oct 9, 2002
497
0
16
MI, USA
Okay, I am still having a big problem with the puffers breeding. They are spawning just about every week. But he isn't fertilizing them! What in the world is going on?

Ever since the first ( and only) batch of fry, he won't fertilize them. He chases her all over the tank, she lays the eggs, he guards them, then eats them before or even after they turn white.

I'm getting so frustrated!!
 
Honestly I don't know how old they are. I have had them for about three or four months.
They have had fry before, and that was the first batch of eggs. I believe they were 'caught' together.

They are in a 40 gal tank, with no other fish. Well, a ghost shrimp that appears now and again.
 
I'm sorry, I should've been more specific.

No, they are not GSP. They are 'target puffers'. They were bought as Green eyed puffers. But, I don't think the guy had them marked right.
 
Lila,
try as I might, I couldn't find much info on these puffers, anything more than you're quite lucky to have had them breed in the first place. The best I can do is guess.......maybe someone else will have some useful info though...... my best guess would be that perhaps he is aware that these eggs are infertile and is eating them because of that..... why he's not spawning after pestering her to get going is beyond me. I would guess that perhaps he was a female himself or infertile, but that is unlikely since they've successfully bred at least once..... sorry I couldn't be of more help....if any at all....but I tried.... :confused:
 
Hi Lila.

Just a guess, but if he's chasing her around wouldn't it help if you put a fast little dither fish in the tank as a distraction? I know this is recomended with other types of egg layers.
 
I have seen various "Barbs" recomended in other posts(mind you they weren't talking about puffers) as they are supposed to be a fast fish and work well as a distraction.
I'm pretty new at this myself, I have 6 Indian Dwarf Puffers, so I'm not sure how fast your puffers are, but if they are as fast as my little pack you'll probably end up loosing whatever fish you choose as a dither fish, but it might distract the male long enough for the fry to hatch.
Just a thought.:D
 
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