27. Puffers (30)

Tetraodon lineatus 15-20 cm

4. October 2023

The very first puffer fish to receive a scientific name valid in today’s sense was the Nile puffer fish, Tetraodon lineatus. This was in 1758 and is not at all surprising, because the scholars of the world knew the fish since ancient times. In ancient Egypt there was even a hieroglyph in the form of the puffer fish. This hieroglyph was not pronounced as a sound or letter, but specified a state in which the subordinate noun was (a so-called determinative). The puffer fish stood for “discontented.” Perhaps this was because, like all puffer fish, it is poisonous and must not be eaten, at least at certain times, or risk fatal poisoning. Or perhaps the ancient Egyptians were aware of the animal’s sullen temperament. In ancient Egypt, the puffer fish was called “Fahaka” or “Fahaqa”, and this was also a synonym of the Nile puffer fish used until the 1980s.

Aquaristically, the Nile pufferfish has a very bad reputation. It is considered to be extremely biting and incompatible, but curious and playful, so that sooner or later every co-inhabitant gets to feel its extremely strong teeth, which remind of a parrot’s beak and easily crack open every snail shell and every mussel shell. Also the keeper should beware of being bitten by a Nile puffer fish, this gives bleeding wounds.

On the other hand, there is hardly any aquarium fish that can match the Nile puffer fish in intelligence. It is a predator and prefers to eat small fish. And to catch them, the comparatively clumsy and slow puffer fish has to be tricky. Fascinating for the observer are also its independently moving eyes, with which the Nile puffer fish attentively observes everything inside and outside the aquarium. 

The Nile puffer fish in the trade do not come from the Nile, but from the Niger. The two rivers were connected just a few 10,000 years ago and have very similar fish fauna. In the meantime Nile puffers are also bred in Indonesia. We regularly have Tetraodon lineatus on offer, both wild and captive bred. But large animals – the maximum length of T. lineatus is a little over 40 cm – are very rare for us. Right now we have 15-20 cm long specimens, quite magnificent animals!

For our customers: Tetraodon lineatus 15-20 cm (wild) have code 190307 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pao palembangensis (= Tetraodon palembangensis)

5. May 2023

Every now and then we can import this incredible freshwater pufferfish in small numbers. It is a very specialized species that only occurs in nature in Sumatra and Borneo, where it inhabits very soft, acidic water. This puffer fish is a purely freshwater species, never frequenting brackish or seawater.

The strangely colored belly is used for food acquisition. Pao palembangensis is a predatory fish that pretends to be dead to hunt. It then hangs around in the most impossible body positions, its marbled belly looking like carrion. If a small fish or shrimp comes to eat from the carrion, the animal itself becomes the prey.

According to unconfirmed rumors, females are less humped than males; in any case, males remain somewhat smaller. Clear external sex differences are absent. Breeding has already been successful, the fish, which becomes about 12-15 cm long, is a cave-breeder.

In literature Pao palembangensis (former: Tetraodon palembangensis) was incomprehensibly confused with the “figure-8 pufferfish”, Dichotomyctere ocellatus (former: Tetraodon biocellatus), a brackish water pufferfish growing about 8 cm long, which is still called “Palembang pufferfish” (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/dichotomyctere-ocellatus-formerly-tetraodon-biocellatus/). For Pao palembangensis, therefore, the colloquial name “Dragon Pufferfish” is becoming more and more common.

For our customers: Pao palembangensis has code 462555 on our stocklist, Dichotomyctere ocellatus code 46250. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Auriglobus modestus

2. December 2022

The golden pufferfishes – the genus name Auriglobus means roughly “golden globe“ – are pure freshwater pufferfishes. For a long time it was thought that there was only one species, A. modestus, which was placed in the genus Chonerhinos. Then it was discovered that there are actually five species, darn similar to each other.

We have now received from Sumatra, more specifically, from the Indragiri River, a nice shipment of Golden Puffers. In all probability it is A. modestus. This is supported by anatomical characteristics (snout and caudal peduncle shape) and also by the locality, because the last reviser of the genus (Roberts, 1982) identified specimens from the Indragiri as A. modestus.

This golden pufferfish reaches a length of about 10 cm. It is a restless swimmer and, like all pufferfishes, very curious. What is true for almost all puffers also applies to this species: there are peaceful specimens and those that can be classified in their behavior between insolent and pushy. The latter also like to bite off pieces of fin. Under no circumstances should keep gold puffers along with quiet, shy species. Larger barbs, catfish, perch, knifefish, spiny eels and the like, on the other hand, are usually fine. If you are unlucky enough to obtain a downright troublemaker gold puffer, solitary keeping is usually required. What applies to other fish species also applies to conspecifics. Usually gold puffers get along well with each other, but there are also loners that attack each conspecific violently with bites.

Nothing is known about the reproductive behavior of the Golden Puffers. They eat very gladly live food of all kinds and accept also frozen food well. They are by no means food specialists, in nature they eat mainly insects. Vegetable material is ignored.

For our customers: the animals have code 366593 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pao abei (formerly Tetraodon abei)

17. June 2022

This beautiful and – by Pao standards – peaceful freshwater pufferfish originates from the Mekong River basin in Laos (type locality: the Xe Bangfai River near Ban Geng Sahwang); it is considered endemic (= only occurring there) in the Xe Bangfai. In contrast to Pao turgidus, which occurs in the same river, P. abei has a large eye spot (ocellus) below the dorsal fin. In P. turgidus, all spots on the body are the same size. Unfortunately P. abei can only be identified without any doubt if it shows a mood dependent coloration. This coloration occurs during courtship and when the fish is very excited. If the fish is not in this mood, it cannot be distinguished from the “common” Pao cochinchinensis, which also occurs in the Xe Bangfai. That is why there are always doubts about which of the two species one is looking at.

However, this is not only of academic interest, but also has quite practical significance. While Pao cochinchinensis is a rather aggressive species, which can often only be kept singly in the long run, a permanent group keeping of P. abei is quite possible. 

The external unique point of P. abei is therefore only one of several possible mood-related colorations, which consists of yellow or orange dots on a dark background. Otherwise, we can only rely on our supplier to send us puffer fishes under this name. Fortunately one of the two specimens of our current import in the photo tank did us the favor to show itself in typical abei coloration for some time!

Pao abei grows to about 10 cm in length. They are substrate spawners, the clutch is guarded by the male until the larvae hatch. The breeding of P. abei has been successful more often. Regarding water chemistry the animals are undemanding, any tap water is suitable, pH should be between 6 and 8, water temperature around 24°C.

For our customers: P. abei has code 461245 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Chelonodontops bengalensis

1. April 2022

Large puffer fish are always a cause for joy among our staff. The animals are not only beautiful, but they communicate with the keeper and the hall visitors. Their eyes are always in lively motion and it is difficult to avoid the impression that the fish in the aquarium looks at the person outside the aquarium with the same curiosity as the other way around.

Chelonodontops bengalensis was only described scientifically in 2018, at the same time as a very similar species from Burma, C. alvheimi. Since the two author teams apparently did not know about each other, there were doubts whether both puffers were not the same species. This doubt has now been dispelled. Both species are similar, but can be distinguished by the type of skin spination.

Chelonodontops bengalensis was originally found in the sea off Bangladesh, later also off the coast of India. The up to about 40 cm long animals are therefore marine fishes, but like many other marine puffer fishes they like to swim in river mouths. We keep our two 20-25 cm long newcomers in slightly salted fresh water. They feel quite comfortable, but we assume that this will only work for a relatively short time (a few weeks). For permanent care, you need a brackish or saltwater aquarium. It is important that the pH never drops below 7, and when feeding, care must be taken to keep the nitrite level under control.

So, these are very special fish and their care is reserved for specially interested, very experienced aquarists. All others will enjoy the beautiful coloration and the clever eyes, if you are lucky enough to meet a Chelonodontops bengalensis.

For our customers: the animals have code 409753 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pao sp. Chao Phraya

14. January 2022

The cockade pufferfishes are a very complex group of freshwater pufferfishes. Formerly they were called the “Tetraodon-leiurus group”, but since 2013 they are in the genus Pao. The genus name Tetraodon is now only applied to the freshwater puffers of Africa.

Throughout Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia), Pao freshwater puffers can be found. They are predatory fish, usually very incompatible with each other, and are quite variable in color. Many have a prominent eyespot or ocellus below the dorsal fin that looks like a cockade – hence the popular name. Exactly how many species of cockaded puffers there are is disputed. Before about 1990, all cockaded puffers were called Tetraodon leiurus or T. leiurus brevirostris. Several species were synonymized, which are now seen as valid again. A very distinctively marked cockaded puffer was described as Tetraodon barbatus from the Mekong River in 1996. Special recognition feature of this species are the dark spots on the lips (barbatus = the bearded one). Already a short time later this species was declared as synonym to the species Tetraodon cambodgiensis, also originating from the Mekong. Only in 2013 a re-description of the species T. barbatus, the transfer into the newly created genus Pao and the validation of P. barbatus took place.

We have now received very nice cockaded puffers from Thailand, but not from the Mekong, but from the Chao Phraya. Therefore our exporter called them Pao sp. Chao Phraya. But apart from the “wrong” distribution they fit perfectly to P. barbatus, both concerning the coloration – including the “beard” – and concerning the anatomical detail that the caudal peduncle has no spines. This is the most important difference between Pao barbatus and P. cambodgiensis. 

Pao sp. Chao Phraya has one peculiarity: the “cockade spot” is extraordinarily large. At least for a short time Pao sp. Chao Phraya get along well with each other, a pleasant difference to many other cockaded puffers, which are often downright biting among themselves. The maximum size of P. barbatus is given with about 12 cm, it can be assumed that also Pao sp. Chao Phraya reaches about this size. The photographed animals are between 8 and 10 cm long.

For our customers: the fish have code 462613 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Tetraodon schoutedeni

10. December 2021

In the 1960s Tetraodon schoutedeni was one of the most common freshwater puffers in the trade. Also the breeding of the animals succeeded regularly. The fish are free spawners without brood care. But the civil war in Congo changed the situation drastically and even nowadays catchers are reluctant to go to the occurrence areas of the species.

We are happy that now once again we succeeded in importing some animals. The fish are about 4-6 cm long, fully grown they are 7-10 cm. Males often remain smaller, seem to be more contrastingly colored and have longer snouts, but overall the sex differences are not particularly distinct. Tetraodon schoutedeni, also known as the Leopard Pufferfish, is considered one of the most peaceful pufferfishes, but one must always keep in mind with pufferfishes that they are individualists. Leopard Pufferfish are pure freshwater dwellers.

For our customers: the animals have code 191603 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale. 

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pao abei (formerly: Tetraodon or Monotrete abei)

10. December 2021

In Southeast Asia a group of freshwater puffers exists that is extremely difficult to tell apart on a specific level. They are called the Eyespot-Puffers or the Pao-leiurus-complex. These puffers live in streams and rivers, some also in ponds and lakes, always in pure freshwater.

Among the most enigmatic species is Pao abei, which has been described scientifically in 1998 from the Mekong river in Laos. Preserved specimens are very dark, almost black, with tiny yellow or orange spots. This was exactly how the freshly collected fish looked on the photos that were sent to us by our supplier from Thailand! But the very same fish he sent look very different when kept in aquaria. This is the tricky thing with freshwater puffers: they can change their coloration very fast and very drasticallly. Additionally every individual has a slightly different pattern. There are only very few constant anatomical features that allow a determination, most of them overlap in the different species. So, do the fish we could recently import – they have a size of 7-10 cm – really belong to the species Pao abei? Who knows… Anyway, they are beautiful and interesting fish!

For our customers: the fish have code 461245 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Colomesus asellus

22. September 2021

The South American puffer fish Colomesus asellus are ideal for aquarium care. They remain small (usually around 6-8 cm, at most around 12 cm, other sizes given in the literature are based on confusion), are pure freshwater inhabitants, love to eat small snails and are absolutely peaceful, both against conspecifics and against other fish species. They have only one characteristic, which is negative: they are unbelievably active and rush continuously through the aquarium. They should not be kept together with calm fish species and also nervous aquarists should keep their hands off them.

Care must be taken during acclimation: Colomesus are very susceptible to Piscinoodinum and Ichthyophthirius (velvet and spot disease). The diseases can be combated well with commercially available medications, additionally a temperature increase to 30°C and a flow pump helps. After the acclimatization the fish are robust and long-lived and give a lot of joy by their droll nature.

Now is the season for these animals, which we get from the upper Amazon (Peru). By the way, in 2013 a cryptic sibling species was described from the Rio Tocantins drainage in Brazil, which practically does not differ in color from C. asellus, but in small anatomical details and especially by DNA: Colomesus tocantinensis. This species is also a pure freshwater pufferfish. To our knowledge it is not exported and its care should not be different from C. asellus, but it is good to know that it exists.

For our customers: Colomesus asellus has code 218303 (approx. 3 cm) on our stock list. please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Carinotetraodon travancoricus

20. November 2020

The first Indian dwarf puffer fish (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) of the new season have arrived. These cute animals – they are freshwater puffers – only grow 2-3 cm long in nature, in the aquarium they may grow a little bigger, but not much. You should keep these animals in a swarm if possible; then they form a ranking and are so busy with themselves that the dreaded fin biting, which almost all pufferfish species can (but do not have to!) show, is largely absent. Only among each other, there are slight fin-damages, that heal without complications.

The males can be recognized by the fact that they are much slimmer and have a longer head, they also become somewhat larger than the females. All pufferfish prefer to eat snails, mussels and shrimps. Thanks to their well-developed teeth, pufferfish can bite off well. So they can easily be fed with mussel meat and other Frutti di Mare from the freezer. All the usual types of frozen food can be added to it, red and white mosquito larvae are particularly sought after as live food, but daphnia (water fleas) are also healthy and an excellent occupation for the small animals, which, like all pufferfish, are always curious and playful. In nature, insects and their larvae, worms and crustaceans make up the largest part of the diet, but algae also make up a not to be underestimated food portion (approx. 25-30%), although it is not clear whether these algae are actively eaten or rather accidentally ingested. Dry food is not eaten by dwarf puffer fish.

Indian dwarf pufferfish originate from South India (Kerala), where they are unfortunately considered increasingly endangered by dam construction, deforestation and the conversion of forest areas into farmland. One can breed them quite well in the aquarium, they are plant-spawners without brood-care, but it is ecologically more meaningful and probably the only possibility to do something for the protection of these animals in this country if one buys wild catches. Although it is claimed occasionally that the catch for the aquarium supply would have led to a strong decline of the populations, there is no proof for that; one should look at such desk considerations, that are not supported by scientific field research, very, very skeptically.

For our customers: the animals have code 436302 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply wholesale only.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Leiodon cutcutia THAILAND

24. July 2019

The first tropical freshwater puffer fish, which was imported in 1903 for aquaristics and soon bred, was the common or emerald puffer fish, at that time still known as Tetraodon cutcutia. The species remains quite small with a maximum length of 9 cm, is attractively colored and easy to keep, but unpredictably biting against conspecifics and other fish, which is why it is only rarely on offer.

L. cutcutia was described scientifically from the Ganges in India, from where the imports usually also take place. Since this is a pure freshwater species that even avoids brackish water, it is amazing that L. cutcutia also occurs in Thailand, although India and Thailand are separated by mountains that are insurmountable for freshwater fish by land. According to Thai nature guides, L. cutcutia only occurs in the extreme south of the country in the Malay Peninsula.

We have now received a nice number of this puffer fish from Thailand. As typical for the glow-eye puffer fish, the animals can change their colouring drastically. 

For our customers: the animals have code 461403 on our stocklist. Please note that we only deliver to wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Dichotomyctere ocellatus (formerly: Tetraodon biocellatus)

29. March 2019

The green pufferfish (genus Dichotomyctere) are the best known aquarium pufferfish. They are brackish water animals, which, in case they should be cared for in fresh water, paying special attention to their pH value. A pH below 8 does not get them in the long run and the water should be as hard as possible. The easiest way to care for them is in brackish water, 5-10 grams of sea salt/litre are enough.

Dichotomyctere species can sometimes become quarrelsome and then bite off the fins of other fish. One must therefore be a little careful when keeping them in a community tank. It is best to care for them in groups, 6-10 specimens are ideal.

The smallest Dichotomyctere species is D. ocellatus; it becomes only 8 cm long and is extremely pretty. Very early it was confused with the dragon pufferfish (Pao palembangensis) and therefore it can be found in the older literature under the name Tetraodon palembangensis. Of this the common name Palembang puffer remained, but it is also often called „Figure Eight Puffer“ due to the pattern on the back. 

We currently have very nice specimens in different sizes in stock.

For our customers: the animals have code 262504 (4-5 cm) and 262505 (5-6 cm, these are the photographed specimens) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pao suvattii (= Tetraodon suvattii)

1. February 2019

This freshwater pufferfish originates from the rivers of Thailand. Here it imitates stones and lurks for clueless feeder fish. In the aquarium it can be easily fed by large pieces of frozen food given by a forceps. The fish becomes around 12-15 cm long and looks very much alike the African cousin Tetraodon miurus. However, the always visible V on the back makes Pao (formerly placed in Tetraodon) suvattii unmistakable.

For our customers: the fish have code 461554 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Carinotetraodon irrubesco

18. September 2018

Pufferfish are most often thought to be brackish water fishes. But there do exist indeed species that are adopted to totally fresh water. Some of them even live in the very soft and acidic waters of the forests. Among the latter are the species of Carinotetraodon from Indonesia; we currently could import once more C. irrubesco from Sumatra.

This species of Carinotetraodon becomes about 5 cm long in males, females stay a bit smaller. Males can be recognized by the red caudal fin. All other colours can change very fast and are not of much use for determination.

In respect of behaviour, Carinotetraodon irrubesco can be best compared with a small cichlid of the more aggressive kind. Sometimes other fish are totally ignored, sometimes bitten. It is not possible to make any reliable prognoses. So these puffers are best kept by pair in a single species tank. Here they also often will spawn. The eggs are scattered freely in plants, this species does not take care for the brood.

For our customers: the fish have code 408153 on ur stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Chelonodon patoca

16. October 2017

We received this beautiful species of brackish water puffer from Thailand. The species Chelonodon patoca has a wide distrubution in the Indian Ocean. It is often placed in the genus Chelonodontops in recent times. Adult specimens – the species becomes up to 30 cm long – usually live in the sea, while young fish live in brackish water and swim occassionally far upstreams. It is best to keep them in brackish water.

Sadly many individuals of that beautiful fish become fin biters. So one should keep them only along with fast fish that can avoid the attacks of the puffer. Otherwise C. patoca is easy to keep and – like most pufferfishes – very interesting. One should have a sandy bottom in the aquarium, as C. patoca likes to burry itself from time to time.

For our customers: the fish have code 409802 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Tetraodon schoutedeni

23. November 2015

Long
time not seen! Formerly, in the 1960ies, Tetraodon schoutedeni was one
of the most common species in the ornamental fish trade. Even breeding
of this species proofed to be rather uncomplicated. But due to the civil
wars in the Congo the situation changed drastically. Even nowadays the
collectors prefer not to go to the areas where the species is found.

So
we are very glad that we were able to import once more some specimens.
The animals are already fully grown, eg 7-10 cm long. The males seem to
show a more contrasting pattern and to have longer snouts. Tetraodon
schoutedeni is also known as the leopard puffer. The species is said to
be one of the most peaceful species of pufferfish at all; however one
must always keep in mind that puffers are individualists. Leopard
puffers are pure freshwater inhabitants.

For
our customers: the animals have code 191603 on our stocklist. Please
note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Only very few
specimens available!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Sphoeroides annulatus

29. September 2015

A very interesting species of pufferfish reached us currently from Colombia: Sphoeroides annulatus. This species is primary a seawater fish, but juveniles are often found in pure freshwater. However, we recommend to keep the species in brackish water. This beautiful puffer can reach a maximum length of 40 cm. Most specimens are peaceful, but one should always keep in mind that puffers in general have an individual temper. Sadly every now and then even among peaceful species single specimens exist that love to bite in the fins of their tankmates.

For our customers: the fish have code 293702 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Kolumbien / Colombia

Pao baileyi (= Tetraodon baileyi)

26. January 2015

We
were able to import one of the most curious species of freshwater
pufferfish: Pao baileyi. This species occurs in the rapids of the river
Mekong in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia and has been discovered only in
1985. The species attains a maximum length of about 12-15 cm. The
strange beard that is developed in some specimens is most probably only
sometimes a feature that can be used to sex the fish. There do exist
beardless animals that seem to be males (according to the overall
proportions) and there are sometimes animals with a small beard that
seem to be females. It is only rarely as easy to sex the fishes as it
seems from some of our pictures. Anyway, the species is highly variable
in respect of coloration, too, not only in respect of the beard.

This
variability is connected with the unique lifestyle of the fish. They
imitate stones! The puffer sucks with its belly to the ground. Now the
function of the beard becomes obvious: this beard imitates algae growing
on a stone! If a fish or a shrimp comes along and tries to feed
Aufwuchs or algae from the surface of that “stone”, it becomes prey of
the pufferfish. So a comparably bad swimmer like a pufferfish can
survive in the strong current of rapids with a minimum of energy.



Pao
baileyi is very aggressive against conspecifics. So one should keep
these puffers solitary and put pairs together only for breeding
purposes. The hardness and pH of the water is of no meaning, but this
puffer needs clean, oxygen-rich water.

For
our customers: the animals have code 461254 on our stocklist. Please
note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in
limited numbers only! 

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Pao palembangensis and Dichotomyctere ocellatus

26. November 2014

Pao palembangensis (= Tetraodon palembangensis)

Once
more we were able to import a small number of the most unbelievable
freshwater pufferfish. This species is quite specialized. It occurs only
on Sumatra and Borneo, where it lives in very soft and acidic water.
This puffer is a pure freshwater species that never enters brackish or
marine environments.

The
unusual pattern on the belly serves to make prey. Pao palembangensis is
a predator that imitates a dead fish while hunting. Then it hangs
around like carrion. If a small fish or a shrimp tries to feed on the
carrion it becomes food itself.

Rumors
say that the females´ hump on the back is much smaller than the males´
hump. In any way the species has already been bred in aquaria, where it
proofed to be a cave brooder. P. palembangensis attains a maximum length
of 12-15 cm.

Although
both species look totally different, in elder aquarium literature Pao
palembangensis (formerly: Tetraodon palembangensis) has been often
confused with the “Figure eight puffer”, Dichotomyctere ocellatus
(formerly known as Tetraodon biocellatus). The latter attains a maximum
length of about 8 cm and is a brackish water species. Due to this
confusion Pao palembangesis is also known as the “dragon puffer”  in the
international trade.

For
our customers: Pao palembangensis has code 462555 on our stocklist,
Dichotomyctere ocellatus code 46250. Please note that we exclusively
supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Tetraodon miurus

18. August 2014

Tetraodon miurus Tetraodon miurus Tetraodon miurus Tetraodon miurus

The Congo Puffer is one of the most remarkable species of freshwater pufferfish at all. The strictly solitary living species is a predator. It prefers to spend the day completely burrowed in sand. Only the mouth and the eyes peep out of the lair. If a potential prey comes along the puffer shoots out of the sand and bites the poor victim‘s belly off. Later the complete fish becomes eaten.

The ability to change the coloration is also remarkable. They can be brick red (as on the photos), but they can also be black, grey with black dots or marbled olive green. The puffer use this ability in case no sandy bottom is available. In this case the fish simply mimics a stone.

The maximum length of Tetraodon miurus is about 15 cm. It is necessary to keep this species in a single-species tank as a single individual. This tank, however, can be comparatively small, for the puffer does not swim a lot.

For our customers: the fish have code 191303 (6-8 cm) and 191305 (9-12 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in very limited numbers only!

Common name: Congo Puffer

Lexicon: Tetraodon: means “with four teeth”. miurus: means “curtailed”.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft D. R. Congo
Verfügbare Größe in cm 6-12

New generic names for freshwater pufferfish (1)

27. May 2014

Until
recently most species of freshwater puffer from Africa and Asia have
been placed in the genus Tetraodon. Currently this concept changes. The
name Tetraodon is restricted now to the six species of freshwater puffer
occuring in Africa, namely Tetraodon duboisi, T. lineatus, T. mbu, T.
miurus, T. pustulatus and T. schoutedeni. All other species are placed
in different and often new genera; we will introduce all these changes
to you in the upcoming weeks.

We
have currently three species of African pufferfish in stock: T.
lineatus from Nigeria; from the Congo originate T. miurus (we have them
in different colours) and T. mbu (we have different sizes).

For
our customers: T. lineatus has code 190305, T. miurus 191303 and T. mbu
191000 and 191004 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively
supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Carinotetraodon borneensis

6. May 2013

This pufferfish lives exclusively in pure freshwater on Borneo and is only very rarely imported. The maximum length is about 6 cm (males) and 4 cm (females). In the wild this fish lives in soft and acidic water!

For our customers: the animals have code 408102 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in very limited numbers only!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Carinotetraodon borneensis

1. July 2011

Carinotetraodon borneensis Carinotetraodon borneensis

At least we successfully imported one of the most mysterious species of freshwater pufferfish: Carinotetraodon borneensis. Although the species as been described already in 1903, it was considered over decades as a junior synonym of a closely related species, C. lorteti. However, both species look extremely similar in alcohol.

In live the fish look quite different. Like all crested puffers the fish can change its coloration amazingly. In contrast to its close relatives (C. lorteti: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia; C. irrubeso: Sumatra and Borneo (Kalimantan); C. salivator: Borneo (Sarawak); C. borneensis: Borneo (Sarawak)) we can observe no clear sexual dichromatism in our specimens. All fish look very similar to each other.

Of course this up to 5 cm long species is mainly of interest for specialized aquarists. But there can be no doubt that such rarities are the extra something for the hobby. Almost nothing is known so far about this interesting species. Observations of live fish in the aquarium can considerably help to understand the life history of the species. And this is one of the main goals of the aquarium hobby at all.

For our customers: the fish have code 408102 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Carinotetraodon borneensis is a pure freshwater species that lives in the wild in soft and acidic water.

Lexicon: Carinotetraodon: Latin, means “Tetraodon with a keel”; Tetraodon is another genus of pufferfish. borneensis: means “coming from Borneo”.

Suggestion of a common name: milkcoffee crested puffer

Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Indonesien / Indonesia
Verfügbare Größe in cm 5 - 6

Takifugu ocellatus

7. September 2009

After many long years we were finally able again to import this most beautiful pufferfish. For more informations on the species, please see http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/archiv.php?news_id=207

For our customers: the animals have code 456363 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft China

Takifugu ocellatus

7. September 2009

Takifugu ocellatus

We were able to import one of the most beautiful freshwater puffers from China again: Takifugu ocellatus. This fish shows us that the terms “freshwater fish” and “marine fish” can be applied on the very same species. Like salmon these puffers live in pure freshwater during their youth and then go to the sea where they grow up and become mature. Sadly nothing is known about the breeding behaviour of that species. This puffer becomes about 15 cm long and thus it belongs to the smallest members of the genus Takifugu. The species is very aggressive against conspecifics when it is settled in the tank. Against other tankmates they usually are peaceful as long as they are too big to be eaten.

Takifugu ocellatus

Puffers are carnivorous fishes and need frozen or live food. Most of all they like mussels and snails, but they also accept shrimps, small fish, earthworms etc.

The tank should have fine sand on the bottom for this species of puffer likes to bury itself. All trials to acclimate young specimens of 6-8 cm length to full strength seawater failed so no experiments in that direction are recommended.

Lexicon: Takifugu: composed from two Japanese words: Taki meaning “waterfall” and Fugu, which is the name of the puffer which causes deadly poisoning when prepared for food in a wrong way; the term has multiple meanings, one can read it in a way that the fish should be cooked in liquid for example. ocellatus: Latin for “with an eyespot”.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Auriglobus silus

21. December 2007

(21.Dec.2007) Streched Puffer is his name. This week we recieved this frisky puffer from Thailand. They are easy to keep and do not need special water parameters. In bigger sizes they can tend to fight between themselves. All in all
it is an interesting puffer, which will be kept mainly from experts or experienced hobbyists. (Photo F.Schäfer, Text R.Neunkirchen)

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Thailand
Verfügbare Größe in cm 4-5

FIRST TIME IMPORTED: Arothron firmamentum

13. December 2007

ERSTIMPORT: Arothron firmamentum

Just yesterday we got from Burma an marine pufferwhich was caught in pure freshwater: Arothron firmamentum. This is the first time that this item was found in freshwater and we hope that we can provide more details about them soon.

Tetraodon baileyi

6. July 2007

Tetraodon baileyi Tetraodon baileyi

(05.Feb.2008) At present we can offer Tetraodon baileyi in an outstanding constitution and by pair! Please note that the females do not show any fluffs. The cute appearance of T.baileyi, originates from the Mekong river system in Indochina, should however not hide their predatory character, since they can “clear up” in a “community aquarium” enormously. They are disguised as pebbles overgrown with algae and hide on the bottom waiting for prey to come closer and even nibble on the puffer’s tentacles. But then it is already too late and the unsuspecting victim becomes a meal.They are evenly somewhat special for aficionados of unusual aquarium fish. Also their family life is rather rustic, as nicely as they pose here, they will not often behave in the aquarium.(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Laos, Thailand, Mekong
Verfügbare Größe in cm 7-9

Tetraodon mbu

6. July 2007

Tetraodon mbu

April 2002: Yesterday we received from the Republic of Congo, this beautiful Tetraodon mbu, the real congo-puffer. We got this item in this huge size never before.The maximum size cited in the literature is nearly 70cm. It is astounding how individuals differ in their behaviour: there are shy and also agressive ones. More details you can find in the AQUALOG – The puffers – by Dr. Klaus Ebert.

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Kongo
Name Tetraodon mbu
Lateinischer NameLateinischer Name Tetraodon mbu

Tetraodon pustulatus

6. July 2007

Tetraodon pustulatus

TETRAODON PUSTULATUS was caught in Cross-River in Cameroon. External shape and behaviour of adult animals remind one of Tetraodon mbu. The maximum size is quoted with 36cm in literature. Young animals being kept together do not show any injuries so that it is safe to assume that they are not very aggressive. Tetraodon pustulatus has to be regarded as freshwater puffer. The information about the occurrence in brackish and seawater shown in older publications are probably based on a mistake, because there is a similar looking seawater puffer species (Ephippion guttiver) occuring in Cross-River. You will find more hints and useful information in AQUALOG (volume 16) The Puffers Of Fresh- And Brackish Water.(Photo Aquarium Glaser, Text Dr. K. Ebert)

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Kamerun, Cross River
Name Tetraodon pustulatus