What kind of puffer fish is this?

[professorjimjam]

I want to buy this puffer fish. I don’t know the name. The shopkeeper says it is Congo puffer that will not grow more than 10cm and also it is much more peaceful than fahaka or other puffers.
I want to buy it if it is really Congo puffer and is peaceful. I want to put them together with my Amazon puffers.
Please help me confirming if this is really Congo puffer and if I can put it with my Amazon puffers and my plecos.
Thanks

 

[professorjimjam]

Fat Homer appreciate your feedback.

 

[Deadeye]

There are two puffers commonly called “congo puffers.”
First is the Murius puffer, which is very aggressive.
The one you have pictured is the schoutodini puffer and is tied with amazons for being the only community safe puffers. Due to it being very difficult to collect and captive breeding still being new for these guys, they are extremely expensive.
Tbh I don’t know how it would get along with amazons and a fig 8, though I’d suspect it would be okay compatibility wise. I’d be more worried about not overstocking your tank (5 puffers in a 32 is a lot).

 

[professorjimjam]

Thank you very much Deadeye. I think I will remove one of the amazons to be able to accommodate this new puffer. I also got it in a very good deal. The shopkeeper became my friend, so he said usually the price for such puffer is more than 200 usd but he gave it to me for 100 usd and also he is going to keep it in his shop for couple of weeks to make sure that he is well and healthy before he can give it to me.

 

[Deadeye]

Thank you very much Deadeye. I think I will remove one of the amazons to be able to accommodate this new puffer. I also got it in a very good deal. The shopkeeper became my friend, so he said usually the price for such puffer is more than 200 usd but he gave it to me for 100 usd and also he is going to keep it in his shop for couple of weeks to make sure that he is well and healthy before he can give it to me.

If you are going to move anyone I’d move the fig 8, needs brackish anyway. Amazons do best in groups, the more the merrier (or as much as the tank can hold).

 

[professorjimjam]

Yes. Thank you so much. I will then move fig8. I don’t see him growing anyways.

 

[professorjimjam]

@ Deadeye

I thought to let you know that as you suggested, I gave back the fig8 to the pet store and received last night the Tetraodon schoutedeni. I observed him for several hours. It is really peaceful just like the amazon puffers. It did not attack any fish. however, it does seem to be very intelligent that the amazons. this morning, I went to work a bit late, I observed the new Congo puffer, so in the tank full of fries of Bristlenose Plecos and too many cherry shrimps. the new puffer started eating the small size BN plecos until it became full, also tried eating two cherry shrimps as well, the ones that were in small size. so in total it ate 3 BN and 2 shrimps and then he was full and stopped chasing. another thing that I noticed about him/her is that he/she is extremely fast if he/she wants to catch a shrimp. but when not in hunting mode, then he/she is relaxed and explores the tank. I have a lot of small guppies and also long fin Moscow guppies but he/she does not bother nipping any of those. my son is a bit upset that I gave Fig8 away, as we all developed some sense of emotion with that fish. I told my son that fig8 will be better off and healthy in brackish water.
I also managed to trim the teeth of my amazons without the use of any sedation such as clove oil. they are doing well and operation was successful. it was in fact much easier than last time which I did with clove oil. of course I changed the tool this time, I bought a very tiny curved shape nail cutter and that fit very well beneath the teeth. I caught them one by one and and submerged into the water in a net, I cut the teeth.


I am grateful to you deadeye for all of your help and helpful advices. I have learned a lot from you.

 

[phreeflow]

I have several Schoutedeni and like them much better than the Amazons, which are way too hyperactive. Mine are very peaceful and don’t attack any of my fish…including baby plecos.

However, I never had luck mixing different species of puffers. I once had a very large peaceful mbu that never hurt anything, even tiny shrimp. I thought it would be fun to add some dwarf puffers but the mbu immediately went crazy and killed them all. Never seen him like that before and he didn’t bother any other fish…just other puffers.

I am curious how the Amazons and Schoutedeni get along. Any chasing or biting?

 

[Deadeye]

@ Deadeye

I thought to let you know that as you suggested, I gave back the fig8 to the pet store and received last night the Tetraodon schoutedeni. I observed him for several hours. It is really peaceful just like the amazon puffers. It did not attack any fish. however, it does seem to be very intelligent that the amazons. this morning, I went to work a bit late, I observed the new Congo puffer, so in the tank full of fries of Bristlenose Plecos and too many cherry shrimps. the new puffer started eating the small size BN plecos until it became full, also tried eating two cherry shrimps as well, the ones that were in small size. so in total it ate 3 BN and 2 shrimps and then he was full and stopped chasing. another thing that I noticed about him/her is that he/she is extremely fast if he/she wants to catch a shrimp. but when not in hunting mode, then he/she is relaxed and explores the tank. I have a lot of small guppies and also long fin Moscow guppies but he/she does not bother nipping any of those. my son is a bit upset that I gave Fig8 away, as we all developed some sense of emotion with that fish. I told my son that fig8 will be better off and healthy in brackish water.
I also managed to trim the teeth of my amazons without the use of any sedation such as clove oil. they are doing well and operation was successful. it was in fact much easier than last time which I did with clove oil. of course I changed the tool this time, I bought a very tiny curved shape nail cutter and that fit very well beneath the teeth. I caught them one by one and and submerged into the water in a net, I cut the teeth.


I am grateful to you deadeye for all of your help and helpful advices. I have learned a lot from you.

Glad to hear all is going well.
Sorry to hear it went after some fish and shrimp…it probably won’t stop.
They definitely come across as much different than amazons, more like normal puffers. Amazons are fast and neurotic.

I have several Schoutedeni and like them much better than the Amazons, which are way too hyperactive. Mine are very peaceful and don’t attack any of my fish…including baby plecos.

However, I never had luck mixing different species of puffers. I once had a very large peaceful mbu that never hurt anything, even tiny shrimp. I thought it would be fun to add some dwarf puffers but the mbu immediately went crazy and killed them all. Never seen him like that before and he didn’t bother any other fish…just other puffers.

I am curious how the Amazons and Schoutedeni get along. Any chasing or biting?

I would think the mix would go pretty well. Both puffers are rather peaceful and are a schooling fish. I’d see a fig 8 get meaner first.

 

[professorjimjam]

I have several Schoutedeni and like them much better than the Amazons, which are way too hyperactive. Mine are very peaceful and don’t attack any of my fish…including baby plecos.

However, I never had luck mixing different species of puffers. I once had a very large peaceful mbu that never hurt anything, even tiny shrimp. I thought it would be fun to add some dwarf puffers but the mbu immediately went crazy and killed them all. Never seen him like that before and he didn’t bother any other fish…just other puffers.

I am curious how the Amazons and Schoutedeni get along. Any chasing or biting?

amazons and Congo spotted puffer get along very well.