Hairy Puffers - have some and need help :)

[lilacamy931]

Hello
Here is
Fitzgig

Gizmo

I had been looking for one for sometime, then last weekend there were two being sold as a pair! Naively I wanted to try it even though there is no proven method for males and females. We had a slight dilema when we got home as Gizmo had trapped air but after that it was tempting them with live and frozen foods. Last couple of days Gizmo has really developed her aggression and around feeding or when thinking they are going to be fed, she inflates fully and charges Fitzgig, no biting occurs but she scares him and slightly batters. Usually I net and gently drag to "her zone" and all is well again. But Im unsure whether this is just a dominance thing or to be honest they arent compatible which was always a high chance.

I have put temporary feelers out to see if any interest for someone to buy Gizmo but any advice would be great.

I cant set up another tank which I would dearly love to, my only option to keep would be to let things run (which I would never forgive myself if one or both got really badly hurt) or perhaps divide the tank (which is possible but it is an unusual shape tank).

1. Is it good Im acting now rather than later?
2. Are these early signals or would you guess generally one is stronger more dominant? Perhaps I am overreacting? I can always get a video of next feed
3. Have put asking price £30 is this reasonable? Im not housing free as last time I tried this on a speciality fish had many who hadnt kept past a goldfish and wanted to add to communities etc.
4. Should I divide?

 

[kevinfleming21]

I would separate them. even in the event that they did pair off, that would not stop the aggression. Not to mention that puffer fry are almost impossible to care for they are so small. Just seems for the better they not be in the same tank. They will both be much happier. No guarantee they are male and female also.

 

[J-P]

+1 egg crate divider is in order

What size is the tank? You do understand that a min of 25 gals (US) each is in order...

 

[jelly]

I did have a pair and there was no aggresion between them even when feeding. The only issue I did have was they once went for the same worm and sliced each others lips as they bit into it. Interstingly they did often puff at there own reflection in the glass.

 

[scorp]

We need more information:

size of the tank and a better picture of the second one please. Don't disturb them with a net and no egg crate as of yet, the behaviour might only be in the beginnign to establish their ranks.

a video would do as well

 

[J-P]

Interstingly they did often puff at there own reflection in the glass.

but there is no reflection in the glass... for the fish it is fully transparent.

sorry to get off topic.

 

[lilacamy931]

Hey guys
Thank you for the help. I will admit they are in a 120 litre triangular. I will be on look out for Giz elsewhere but in the meantime..
The requested better pics of Giz, had a look through this is the best shot could take:

I will be honest that was planning on holding them in the above mentioned tank for month or two before upgrade (wanted to see about compatibility before going the whole hog, though realise now how naive this was since space is probably one of the issues.). I thought there might be compatibility as in the store they were cannoodled each other and seemed pretty affectionate, I guess there wasnt much choice in the 5gallon section they were being held in with small piece of bogwood. When watching the behaviour it is very pushy but there definately has been no biting as of yet. Fitzgig doesnt try to fight back at all just either trys to swim/back pedal away or panics a little if pinned into corner. They arent up yet today but will try to get video of behaviour.
P.s. as to the reflection thing, I thought that the transparent thing was mostly true but it depended on the type of glass being used? Perhaps something out of the tank they took a dislike to?

 

[Younglin]

Pics didn't work.

 

[lilacamy931]

Edited back in

 

[scorp]

Could be normal behaviour, even for a pair. I can just compare to my suvattii, but they are fairly similar. Had my couple in only 80 litres, no issues at all, 5 spawnings. A bitemark every couple of months, nothing else. Just keep the water very clean (weekly 50% wc) and well oxygenated.

a video of their behaviour towards each other would help a lot though and is always nice to watch