|
|
|
OTHERS
TETRAODONTIDAE FAMILY
The Tetraodontidae or Pufferfish family is distributed world-wide in tropical regions of marine, brackish, and freshwater habitats, although most occur in sea water. Pufferfish are so named, for their ability to inflate with air and water to a size too large to be swallowed. This action is not the Puffer's only mechanism of defense. Many species are covered with small spines, and most species are poisonous. The mouth is beak-like for crushing the shells of mollusks. The eyes are large and highly mobile. Pufferfish exist in a range of sizes and colors.
Figure-eight Puffer, Circle-eight Puffer
[
Pictures
]
Tetraodon biocellatus
SYN
:
Crayracion biocellus, Tetrodon biocellatus, Tetraodon biocellus
PD
: A stocky fish with a broad forehead and protruding eyes. The dorsal and anal fins are rounded and located opposite each other. The caudal fin 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 or dark gray while the upper parts are light to dark gray. The upper parts 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
: To 8" (20 cm), though usually not more than around 4" (10 cm)
SS
: Other
Tetraodon
species.
HAB
: In coastal fresh and brackish waters in Southeast Asia;
Burma
,
Thailand
,
Indonesia
,and Sumatra.
S: All
TANK
: A 32" (80 cm) or 30 gallon (114 L) tank is adequate for fish up to 5" (13 cm)in length. The substrate should be fine gravel or, preferably sand. The tank should be well-planted along the sides and rear and an open swimming area should be left. The plants used must be tough to withstand this Puffer's pugnacious behavior, and must be able to tolerate brackish water. Use rocks and wood to create refuges.
SB
: Young individuals are usually peaceful. Older specimens are territorial and aggressive. All ages are aggressive towards their own species. Best kept alone, but if kept in a community tank, combine with hardy fish of similar sizes. Will attack plants and may nip fins of other fish.
SC
:
Tetraodon, Monodactylus, Scatophagus, Arius, Datnioides
WATER
: pH 6.8-8 (7.3), 8-20 dH (10), 75-84°F (24-30°C). A 1 to 1.5% addition of salt is suggested. Add 7.5-11 TSP. of salt to every 10 gallons (10-15 g/10 L)
FOOD
: Live; snails,
Tubifex
, crustaceans,
insect larvae
, earthworms;occasionally tablets
SEX: Females are said to be slightly larger when mature.
B
: Unsuccessful in captivity, probably similar to
T. nigroviridis
BP
: 10. There are no reports of successful aquarium spawns.
REMARKS: This species has lived up to 10 years in captivity. This species can not live in pure saltwater for long periods.
DC
: 6. This aggressive species requires live foods, brackish water, and frequent partial water changes.
Red-Bellied Puffer
[
Pictures
]
Tetraodon lorteti
SYN
:
Carinotetraodon lorteti, C. somphongsi, Tetraodon somphongsi
PD
: This species has a typical puffer shape except for the think caudal peduncle and the large caudal fin. The coloration of this species varies, as this fish is able to undergo a color change depending on its surroundings. The color becomes darker in darker surroundings and lighter in lighter surroundings. Females generally have a brown-gray coloration with wide beige and small dark brown markings. The belly is white with small dark spots. The iris of the eye is blood red. Males have a dark brown back with two yellow markings, both running from the top of the eye. The flanks are lighter brown with a faint, yellow stripe running from the mouth to the top of the caudal peduncle. The belly is white-yellow and bright red (especially around spawning times. The anal and dorsal fins are small and orange-red in color. The base of the caudal fin may be faint red and the fin may be edged in white. The iris of the eye is also red.
SIZE
: To 2.7" (8 cm)
SS
: None
HAB
: Asia; in standing fresh water ponds in
Thailand
and Eastern
India
S: bottom, middle
TANK
: A 28" (71 cm) or 20-25 gallon (76-95 L) tank is sufficient. Provide plenty of hiding places among rocks, wood, and heavily planted areas. Leave open swimming areas and use a fine gravel or sand substrate. The plants in the tank should be tough-leafed.
WATER
: pH 6.2-7.5 (7.1), 4-12 dH (7), 75-82°F (24-28°C)
SB
: This territorial species will establish an area to guard against other fish. This species is best kept as a single pair in a species tank.
SC
:
Barbus, Botia,
Danios, Gouramis.
FOOD
: Live; snails,
Tubifex
, crustaceans,
insect larvae
, earthworms;occasionally tablets
SEX: The male is more colorful and abstract in coloration than the female, which has a gray belly and is spotted.
B
: Difficult, but has been accomplished on occasion. Use water with the following values:pH of 6.3-6.5, water hardness of 5, and a temperature of 79-81°F (26-27°C). Furnish the tank with Java Moss and plenty of retreats. Accounts ranging from 300-1500 eggs have been reported, although the average brood is not known. eggs are laid in the moss after an active courtship. The male guards the fry, which hatch in 30 hours. Remove the parents. The fry are very difficult to raise because they do not take most foods. Suggest newly
Cyclops
nauplii.
BP
: 8. Breeding is difficult.
REMARKS: This Pufferfish does not require the addition of salt.
DC
: 5. This aggressive species requires live foods and frequent partial water changes.
Green Pufferfish, Spotted Green Puffer, Spotted River Puffer, Round Spotted Puffer
[
Pictures
]
Tetraodon nigroviridis
SYN
:
Arothrondorso vittatus, A. simulans, Carinotetraodon fluviatilis, Crayracion fluviatilis, Dichotomycter fluviatilis, Tetraodon fluviatilis, Tetrodon fluviatilis, T. nigroviridis, T. simulans
PD
: A stocky fish with a broad forehead and protruding eyes. The dorsal and anal fins are rounded and located opposite each other. The tail 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 upper parts are yellow to green. The upper parts are spotted with black to brown spots. These spots have a small yellow ring surrounding each one. The fins are yellow but transparent. The iris ranges from yellow to blue in color.
SIZE
: To 8" (20 cm)
SS
: Other
Tetraodon
species.
HAB
: In coastal fresh and brackish waters in Asia and Southeast Asia;
India
, Sri Lanka,Burma (Myanmar),
Thailand
,
Indonesia
, and the Philippines.
S: All
TANK
: A 32" (80 cm) or 30 gallon (114 L) tank is sufficient. Follow suggestions for
T. biocellus.
WATER
: pH 7.0-8.2 (7.4), 10-20 dH (12), 75-84°F (24-29°C). A 1-2% addition of salt is suggested. Add 7.5-15 TSP. of salt to every 10 gallons (10-20 g/10 L).
SB
: Young individuals are usually peaceful. Older specimens are territorial and aggressive. All ages are aggressive towards their own, and similar species. Best kept alone, but can be combined in a community tank, with hardy, brackish fish of similar sizes. This Puffer will attack plants and may nip the fins of other fish. Males may fight to the death, so monitor fights closely.
SC
:
Arius, Monodactylus, Scatophagus, Toxotes, Datnioides
FOOD
: Live; snails,
Tubifex
, crustaceans,
insect larvae
, earthworms;occasionally tablets
SEX: Unknown
B
: Difficult, has only been accomplished in brackish water. Spawning takes place after courtship near the bottom. The pale, clear eggs are laid on rocks or on the substrate. The male guards these. The fry hatch in 6-7 days and are taken to a small pit on the bottom, where the male continues to guard them. The fry do not take most foods and are consequently very difficult to raise. Suggest newly hatched
Brine Shrimp
,
Cyclops
nauplii, or mosquito larvae.
BP
: 9. Breeding is very difficult and is unusual.
REMARKS: Does best in brackish water and can live up to 10 years in captivity.
DC
: 6. This aggressive brackish water species requires live foods.
Palembang Puffer
[
Pictures
]
Tetraodon steindachneri
SYN
:
Crayracion palembangensis, Tetraodon palembangensis, Tetrodon palembangensis
PD
: 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 upper parts are light to dark gray. The upper parts 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
: To 4" (10 cm)
SS
: Other
Tetraodon
species
.
HAB
: In coastal fresh waters-small streams and drainage ditches-in Southeast Asia;
Burma
(Myanmar),
Thailand
,
Indonesia
, Sumatra
S: All
TANK
: A 30" (76 cm) or 20-25 gallon (76-114 L) tank is sufficient. Follow suggestions for
T. biocellus.
WATER
: pH 6.7-7.7 (7.0), 5-15 dH (10), 73-82°F (23-28°C)
SB
: 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.
SC
:
Botia
, Barbs, Danios, Gouramis, Asian Catfish,
Synodontis.
FOOD
: Live; snails,
Tubifex
, crustaceans,
insect larvae
, earthworms;occasionally tablets
SEX: Females larger when mature
B
: Unsuccessful in captivity, probably similar to
T. nigroviridis
BP
: 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.
DC
: 6. This aggressive species requires frequent partial water changes and live foods.
|
|
|
|
Recent news
New Yangtze River dam could doom more endangered species
(06/22/2009)
Eight Chinese environmentalists and scientists have composed a letter warning that a new dam under consideration for the Yangtze River could lead to the extinction of several endangered species. The letter contends that Xiaonanhia Dam, which would be 30 kilometers upstream from the city of Chongqing, will negatively impact the river’s only fish reserve. Spanning 400 kilometers in the upper Yangtze, the reserve is home to 180 fish species, including the Endangered Chinese sturgeon, and the Critically Endangered Chinese paddlefish, as well as the finless porpoise.
Fish take less than a decade to evolve
(06/22/2009)
Evolution is often thought of being a slow-process, taking thousands, if not millions, of years. However a new study in The American Naturalist found that Trinidadian guppies underwent evolution in just eight years, or thirty generations. Less than a decade ago Swanne Gordon, a graduate student at UC Riverside, and her team introduced Trinidadian guppies into the Damier River in the Caribbean island of Trinidad. They placed the guppies above a waterfall to allow them to flourish in a largely predator-free environment.
Madfish?: scientist warns that farmed fish could be a source of mad cow disease
(06/17/2009)
In a paper that shows just how strange our modern world has become, Robert P. Friedland, neurologist from the University of Louisville, warns that farmed fish could be at risk of Creutzfeldt Jakob disease, or mad cow disease.
New report predicts dire consequences for every U.S. region from global warming
(06/17/2009)
Government officials and scientists released a 196 page report detailing the impact of global warming on the U.S. yesterday. The study, commissioned in 2007 during the Bush Administration, found that every region of the U.S. faces large-scale consequences due to climate change, including higher temperatures, increased droughts, heavier rainfall, more severe weather, water shortages, rising sea levels, ecosystem stresses, loss of biodiversity, and economic impacts.
Will jellyfish take over the world?
(06/16/2009)
It could be a plot of a (bad) science-fiction film: a man-made disaster creates spawns of millions upon millions of jellyfish which rapidly take over the ocean. Humans, starving for mahi-mahi and Chilean seabass, turn to jellyfish, which becomes the new tuna (after the tuna fishery has collapsed, of course). Fish sticks become jelly-sticks, and fish-and-chips becomes jelly-and-chips. The sci-fi film could end with the ominous image of a jellyfish evolving terrestrial limbs and pulling itself onto land—readying itself for a new conquest.
Marine scientist calls for abstaining from seafood to save oceans
(06/08/2009)
In April marine scientist Jennifer Jacquet made the case on her blog Guilty Planet that people should abstain from eating seafood to help save life in the ocean. With fish populations collapsing worldwide and scientists sounding warnings that ocean ecosystems—as edible resources—have only decades left, it is perhaps surprising that Jacquet’s call to abstain from consuming seafood is a lone voice in the wilderness, but thus far few have called for seafood lovers to abstain.
|
|
