Tetraodon pustulatus

[lellison]

Cross River Puffer ( Tetraodon pustulatus ) . I want one. All that I have read about them is that they are rare and expensive. Does anyone know anything about them, their price range or availablitly? They are gorgeous fish and I have always loved puffers. I have plans when I get my 100+ gallon to make it a puffer tank. Could go saltwater with it too, but I found this puffer online and fell in love.

Pic at this link : http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/T_Pustulatus/ (http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/T_Pustulatus/)

[xtc]

When Megan (my wife) said she wanted a puffer- I did a bit of researching and found a couple aspects that were pretty big on my list.

I didn't want to deal with brackish/salt water.
Availability is terrible!! They just don't bring a lot of puffers in.
A large majority of puffers are stalkers- so they hide 90% of the time- I didn't want one of those guys- although the most common one is larger than the majority of the ones you do see.
They don't travel well- so I do not suggest mail ordering one.

IF we had to do it again- I don't know that I'd necessarily go the route we did- that's a huge tank and we still have a move planned in the next year.

I would push for a couple South American Puffers- Pure freshwater, and they don't move brackish in their lifetime. They're still kinda small (5-10")- but they are the most personable puffer I've seen in the market. Always on the glass wondering what you're doin- very cool little guys. I've seen a steady supply at Plano Pets for $9.00 each. They can even be kept in a group- more so than most other puffers.

[lellison]

The way I understood in my research, the Cross River was a freshwater puffer. I could be wrong.

[xtc]

that's what I read-

The part that would be the kicker- is availability. Have you checked Aquabid for pricing?

[lellison]

couldn't find one on aquabid. Though I am new to using that site.

[xtc]

yea- I'd expect the "rare" is going to mean it's extremely hard to track one down. You might also try thepufferforum...it's an international forum- perhaps one is on the other side of the pond.

[fishyjoe24]

cool looking fish though.

[tezr]

Cross River Puffer ( Tetraodon pustulatus ) . I want one. All that I have read about them is that they are rare and expensive. Does anyone know anything about them, their price range or availablitly? They are gorgeous fish and I have always loved puffers. I have plans when I get my 100+ gallon to make it a puffer tank. Could go saltwater with it too, but I found this puffer online and fell in love.

Pic at this link : http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/T_Pustulatus/ (http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/T_Pustulatus/)

Kind of an old thread but if you are still interested they usually go for $300 to $450 from what I have seen. They are very nice looking but IMHO a nice Fahaka has the same personality and can be quite stunning and grows to about the same size.

This is my Fahaka that was suposed to be a pustulatas but at the price it was listed I pretty much knew it would not be a real one....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/hotblooded/Critters/Fish/pics%20to%20post/puffs2.jpg

[lellison]

very nice fish!

[biggin]

Still could be a mix....

From what I have read that seems to be the main problem.

I had a company in Houston who said they could get me one for about $600.

When I asked for pics they took off running....

I would like to have one but at the price it sounds like they are going for it would be a tough sell to get me to buy one.

[kewlkatdady]

$600 for one fish...

Nice fish but I will pass.

[xtc]

TFG has Mbu for $175. Nice puffers- but I really like the Fahaka personality over the mbu...and Megan studied her puffers before we picked one. Good thing a small fahaka was $29.95 too.

[biggin]

You need a huge tank for a MBU.... I saw them, not too shabby.

Lots of Fahakas on the market right now.

TFG has Mbu for $175. Nice puffers- but I really like the Fahaka personality over the mbu...and Megan studied her puffers before we picked one. Good thing a small fahaka was $29.95 too.

[xtc]

tank size for Fahaka is the same as a mbu...

[kewlkatdady]

i love the name of this section...I have oddballs also...

[bra8ndy8]

i love the name of this section...I have oddballs also...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc196/katlyn57/i184470344_68249-1.gif

[biggin]

I dunno, go check out the big boy down in Houston. He is like 26"....

I could just drop the Trophs and go with the big puffer....

tank size for Fahaka is the same as a mbu...

[tezr]

Toyin at Rehoboth aquatics in Houston gets in the real thing from time to time. I also saw one listed on Old World Exotics once and Leif is very reputable.

[radioaktiv]

mbu gets bigger faster IIRC
the fahaka will get close, but not quite as big
the breeder i bought my fahaka from said the biggest he's ever seen was 2ft, but most of them never get past 16-18in.
mbu can get 2ft pretty easily.

from what ive read anyways

[mrsadler]

man you guys make me wanna start a puffer tank again

[supersmirky]

We won't stop ya! lol Go for it.