Are there any puffers that are, really and truly, Freshwater? if so, what are their names and requirements? thanks!
puffers!
- Thread starter kribman
- Start date
That question is home to quite a controversy from what I've read. Some people claim to keep Figure Eight Puffers in freshwater with no problems, where other people say that their lives are horribly shortened from around 15-20 years to about 2 if kept in freshwater.
From all the different things I've gathered, there is no puffer that wouldn't do better in brackish water.
Somebody here will probably dispute that though.....
From all the different things I've gathered, there is no puffer that wouldn't do better in brackish water.
Somebody here will probably dispute that though.....
The Dwarf Puffer is a TRUE freshwater puffer and will actually die in brackish. kribman- Go to the brackish forums on this site and there is where all the puffer talk and information is. Hope this helps.
There are many true FW puffers, but that list does not include the figure-8s. Watcher's comment is mistaken on the need for salt with all puffers.
http://puffer.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&num=1065359705
The above URL is the partial list mentioned earlier.
http://puffer.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&num=1065359705
The above URL is the partial list mentioned earlier.
That's what the boards are for - we all learn.
Puffers are highly adaptable to water parameters as a group, but they still do have their optimum conditions under which they do best - rather like the Cichlids. Other than the dwarves most are very long-lived fish. There are some that we do not yet seem able to keep for extended periods (Tagifugu ocellatus - one of the best-looking - is a prime example).
Puffers are highly adaptable to water parameters as a group, but they still do have their optimum conditions under which they do best - rather like the Cichlids. Other than the dwarves most are very long-lived fish. There are some that we do not yet seem able to keep for extended periods (Tagifugu ocellatus - one of the best-looking - is a prime example).
Colomesus Asellus (sometimes also called Brazilian or Amazonian) is a true freshwater puffer. These can be kept in a community tank if they are on their own. If you keep them in small groups, you will find lots of pecked tails and that your smaller 'tetra-type' fish will end up dead! They seem to like hunting in packs. As I know from experience after having 10 of these puffers and they got through about 50 cardinals in a weekend!
I don't know if i misunderstood, but if they are kept in a species only tank, thats not a community tank.
IMHO & IME, individual puffers are too variable to make broad statements about compatability. I have kept Figure 8s who made Jack the Ripper look kind, and one Fahaka which was a wimp, but if you must generalize, no puffer belongs in a community tank. For every positive exception, there are likely to be several negatives. I don't like to play against the odds with my fish, and rarely to never keep predators with schoolers or such community types.