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Others
/ Tetraodontidae / Palembang Pufferfish
Palembang Puffer
Tetraodon steindachneri | Pictures
Synonyms: Crayracion
palembangensis, Tetraodon palembangensis, Tetrodon palembangensis
Physical description: A stocky fish with a broad forehead and protruding eyes.
The dorsal and anal fins are rounded
and located opposite each other.
The caudal is fan-shaped.
The skin is leathery and covered with small spines.
When inflated these spines stick out;
rendering the fish un-swallowable.
The colors vary based on the age and the habitat of the specimen.
The
belly is white in color while the upperparts are light to dark gray.
The upperparts are covered in various
green to yellow patterns, ranging from lines to circles, dots to stripes.
Each fish has its own unique pattern.
The
fins are gray.
The iris ranges from yellow to blue in color.
Size/Length: To 4" (10 cm)
Similar species: Other Tetraodon
species
.
Habitat: In coastal fresh waters-small streams and drainage ditches-in Southeast Asia; Burma
(Myanmar), Thailand, Indonesia, Sumatra
S: All
Aquarium: A 30" (76 cm) or 20-25 gallon (76-114 L) tank is sufficient.
Follow suggestions for
T. biocellus.
Water chemistry: pH 6.7-7.7 (7.0), 5-15 dH (10), 73-82°F (23-28°C)
Social behavior: This aggressive species is intolerant of other fish.
It may fight with other Puffers and
nip at the fins of dissimilar species.
Combine with sturdy companions.
Suggested companions: Botia
, Barbs, Danios, Gouramis, Asian Catfish,
Synodontis.
FOOD: Live; snails,
Tubifex, crustaceans, insect larvae, earthworms;
occasionally tablets
SEX: Females larger when mature
Breeding techniques: Unsuccessful in captivity, probably similar to
T. nigroviridis
Breeding potential: 10.
This species has not been bred in captivity
REMARKS: This is a freshwater species that should not be kept in brackish or salt water.
Difficulty of care: 6.
This aggressive species requires frequent partial
water changes and live foods.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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