I've already checked out a few LFS and petco's in my area and none have any puffers. I'm not really sure, but I began to think maybe they are seasonal? Anyone know?
Well I think petco and petsmart might have stopped carrying them. Mabye they were too small and customers don't notice them. I am pretty sure they can be breed year round so I think they are available. I would talk to your LFS staff and ask if they are even ordering them.
More so I think, folks were buying them & they were tearing up their other community fish & they returned or flushed them. Large chains (& most LFS) give very poor advise about how to keep puffers, what to feed them & who they'll get along with.