What puffer is this?

[Sean W.]

Hey guys,

I am going to be setting up a puffer tank. I would like to go with a Fahaka Puffer, but I know a 75 is at the very extreme minimum size for a Fahaka puffer. I could probably get away with it for the first year - 18 months, but a 75 is not big enough for an adult Fakaha. Since I live in a second floor apartment, 75 is probably larger than I should have.

If I am not able to find a puffer that I like more than the Fahaka, I will probably sell him once he gets too big... Id rather not do this tho..

I am open to suggestions for a colorful active puffer that could live its entire life in a 75... Let me know what you think...

I came across this picture on google, It looks like a puffer with a pretty small body and a big tail... Not sure what it is. The website says its a "TETRAODON MIURUS" but when I search that in youtube, I am getting results that look much different than this picture.

EDIT: Looks like this is a Mbu Puffer... The largest freshwater puffer... hmm... This goes right out the window.

 

[fishnatics]

Yeah that's a mbu puffer. Wayyy to big for a 75g. You could look at a spotted Congo puffer or Amazon puffer?

 

[J. H.]

green spotted and figure eight puffers are small and colorful, but need brackish water, especially as they get older. If you want to go full salt, a whole new world of puffers will open up. Flowerhorns, as far as I can see, behave like puffers, and many can be kept quite happily in a 75 or even less, but I have never kept either of these fish and therefore don't know.

 

[Achilles1763]

Ahhh the age old issue for puffer keepers! Sadly there aren't many species that fit between the small lurker tetradons and the very large fahaka. The only two I can think of off the top of my head that you might want to have a research on are fugu puffer and the leopard spot puffer. Neither is very common.

 

[lobowind]

If you are wanting to stay with freshwater puffers and need to have a tank 75 gallons or smaller, you might look at the Tetraodon schoutedeni (Trade name is Spotted Congo puffer.....NOT a regular Congo puffer and NOT a spotted puffer. Those are different puffers.) The schoutedeni is pretty interactive and has a large yellow tail compared to its body. The price tag is high on them, though. They are $150-$200. They only get to be about 4". If you are worried about a 75 gallon tank on a second floor, you could go a little smaller on tank size with this species.

 

[Sean W.]

If you are wanting to stay with freshwater puffers and need to have a tank 75 gallons or smaller, you might look at the Tetraodon schoutedeni (Trade name is Spotted Congo puffer.....NOT a regular Congo puffer and NOT a spotted puffer. Those are different puffers.) The schoutedeni is pretty interactive and has a large yellow tail compared to its body. The price tag is high on them, though. They are $150-$200. They only get to be about 4". If you are worried about a 75 gallon tank on a second floor, you could go a little smaller on tank size with this species.

Yeah that's a mbu puffer. Wayyy to big for a 75g. You could look at a spotted Congo puffer or Amazon puffer?

Thanks guys so much for recommending that puffer! I actually came across a YouTube video shortly after making this thread, where Corey from Aquarium Co-op did a fish shipment unboxing where he received a Spotted Congo Puffer and was talking all about it. After I saw that I went into hardcore research mode and I really think this guy is the sweet spot. Getting large enough to be easily spotted in a 75, yet staying small enough to be completely happy in a 75 for its entire life.

I might have not made it clear, but I already have the 75 gallon tank setup and running, its currently a planted tank, but will be tearing it down shortly and making it into a suitable puffer tank.

Is there a Spotted Congo Puffer whisperer here on these forums? Anyone have one and know EVERYTHING about it? There seems to be not a lot of information on them.

 

[Hendre]

Amazon puffers are ideal, BUT their dentition is notoriously difficult to control. You'll have better luck with brackish puffers.

If you have a 10 gallon+ tank dwarf puffers would be pretty awesome. Keeping them in a 75 would work for a big group, just make sure it stays clean!

 

[Hendre]

I might have not made it clear, but I already have the 75 gallon tank setup and running, its currently a planted tank, but will be tearing it down shortly and making it into a suitable puffer tank.

Is there a Spotted Congo Puffer whisperer here on these forums? Anyone have one and know EVERYTHING about it? There seems to be not a lot of information on them

Planted is great for puffers!

magpie has a Congo puffer

 

[lobowind]

I have three. Information is definitely hard to come by about this species. Mine eat snails, frozen bloodworms, live black worms, live white worms, and frozen mysis shrimp. Also in their tank are white clouds, sterbai cories, and a few super red plecos. I have extra current on the tank, and I feed the puffers daily. I keep the temperature at 75-76* and use RO water. I started all 3 together in the tank since I figured it would be difficult to start with one and try to add others later. They have only shown possessiveness when I feed them their snails. The other foods don't produce that response, and they'll happily eat right next to each other.

 

[Sean W.]

I have three. Information is definitely hard to come by about this species. Mine eat snails, frozen bloodworms, live black worms, live white worms, and frozen mysis shrimp. Also in their tank are white clouds, sterbai cories, and a few super red plecos. I have extra current on the tank, and I feed the puffers daily. I keep the temperature at 75-76* and use RO water. I started all 3 together in the tank since I figured it would be difficult to start with one and try to add others later. They have only shown possessiveness when I feed them their snails. The other foods don't produce that response, and they'll happily eat right next to each other.

Where did you get yours from?