My new puffer - Chelonodon patoca

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T

Tsubakai

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 10, 2008
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Australia
Picked up a baby Milk-spotted Toadfish (Chelonodon patoca) from the LFS a few weeks ago. Care info was a bit scarce, initially didn't even have an ID other than FW puffer.

Initially tried him in my brackish (SG 1.008) tank where he was fine for about a week before he decided he didn't like it and tried to die. Moved him back to freshwater (with aquarium salt) where he is thriving now. He's filling out well in his 55 gal acrylic cylinder tank where he is the only inhabitant. Loves his bits of shrimp, freeze-dried krill soaked in vitamins but his main diet is Hikari Gold sinking pellets - these are his favourite pellets so far.

Anyone got any experience in keeping these guys? There is very little info around locally. I will post on Pufferpunk's forum sometime over the weekend for more advice. My plan was to slowly increase his SG through low brackish to high end brackish or full marine as he grows. Since the max size in the wild is about 14" he's got a fair bit of growing to do yet.

Only two decent pics so far as he's a little ***** to photograph. Hopefully will get more soon.

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Looks like the South American puffer to me. I believe they are full FW, no salt and dont get that big. Ill look around.
Great pick up! Watch out they can be fin nippers.
 
Looks like they can be light brackish. Not sure if they can make it full marine.
The information I found says in captivity they normally dont get any biggert than 3".
What else do you have in your brackish tank?
 
Hmmm... Looks different than ones I've seen in person. Is it's "skin" shiny/silvery? If it is indeed that species, it's a SW fish.

According to Dr Ebert's book, The Puffers of Fresh & Brackish Waters:
"This marine puffer is frequently imported from Sri Lanka. Although it is a marine fish, it does astonishlingly well in FW & even when kept in FW for extended periods it is often hardier than some BW puffers. Because of it's unusual appearance & interesting bahaviour (remaining close to the bottom & sometimes burying itself in sand), it would be considered an attractive aquarium occupant, were it not for it's particularly well-developed tendency of biting the finnage of other fishes. Peaceful towards conspecifics."
 
that is deffinately common name banded puffer google it
 
I believe you are incorrect. We have a scientist, a Mentor on TPF, who can positively ID for you. He goes by Corvus.
 
i know fish can change as they get older but it looks EXACTLY like my South american puffers, BUT i dont see a black spot under the belly by the tail fin...does it have one??
 
Look at the shape of the face, the SAP has a much shorter snout. Then you have the placememt of the dorsal fin & of course, that black belly spot. You can't just go by markings to ID a puffer.
 
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