Puffer ID?

[Sue Gremlin]

I have been out of the fish thing for quite a while, but have just set up a tank at work and am currently cycling.
I had a puffer a few years ago and it was the healthiest, most robust and happy fish I think I've ever had. He lived happily in my lab for several years. Unfortunately, my heater malfunctioned and cooked him. It was a very sad event.
Now, three or four years later, I think I would like to get another one just like him. (and yes, I have replaced that heater!)
Trouble is, I never identified him properly. The closest I could get was "Common Puffer" or "Avocado Puffer". Common puffer? He didn't seem so common to me. Anyway, I FINALLY found a photo online, but the only identifying remarks were "Puffer fish". Helpful.

Can anyone ID this fish? Also, can anyone name a reputable mail order livestock person who sells them?
The first photo is one I found online, and the other, blurry as it is, is of my actual fish, Fatty, and, ironically, the heater that killed him looms in the background. Forgive me, it's blurry, but hopefully you can get a good enough look at him.
Poor Fatty.

[Sue Gremlin]

Oops, I just realized I put this in the Brackish forum. I don't believe this little guy is brackish, but a FW species.

Is this an auriglobus modestus?

[flamingo]

Avacado Puffer!

_try the pufferforum or pufferlist.

[Scuba Kid]

http://www.pufferlist.com/puffer/freshpuff.php?puffid=0

this looks like your little guy.

[Puffer Pita]

Yes, that is a modestus although there is much confusion between the modestus and silus, but yours definitely appears to be a modestus. Yes, freshwater only.

[Sue Gremlin]

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it!

Now I have about a month to wait for the tank to cycle to find one.

[Sue Gremlin]

You know, the photo that scubakid linked to is a similar looking fish, no doubt, but Fatty's dorsal fin was a different shape--it pointy on the anterior part. See what I mean? I didn't notice, but the first photo is different than Fatty.
What are the major differences between the modestus and the sllus species? Or am I just being pedantic and annoying? :P

[Puffer Pita]

Nope, not at all. The major, easy to notice, difference seems to be that the modestus is not as metallic as silus. There's also apparently a difference in the number of rays of some of the fins but I can't offhand remember which fins and how many each has. Going by your photos, that would definitely be a modestus. Lemme see if I can dig up one of mine.

Here you go, these are my silus:

[Puffer Pita]

BTW, where do you live?

[Sue Gremlin]

Tina, those are so pretty! You're right, those are definitely different.
I really appreciate your help. I've been able to locate a guy on aquabid who has some. I should be ready for one in a few weeks!

I am in NJ.

[Puffer Pita]

Thanks. Hmm... if I could figure out how to ship them, I'd sell you one of mine. How much is he charging for it?

[Sue Gremlin]

$10.00 plus something like $35.00 for shipping. He's in NJ though, so hopefully I can just go and pick it up.
I'd LOVE to have one of those pretty shiny puffers! Where did you get yours?

[Puffer Pita]

My LFS had them last summer. They had one that was a bit larger, too, and it took them awhile to sell it. Mine were $7 each and the larger one was $14. They had them listed as golden puffers but didn't really know much about them other than they were evil.

[Sue Gremlin]

Evil? Whatever do you mean?
I found mine at a small LFS near work, it was just serendipity. He was the only one they had, the fish supplier must have thrown him in with the week's order. They had him listed as a "metallic green puffer", but when I asked, they just shrugged and said "Freshwater puffer, neutral pH, feed him bloodworms and shrimp". That's about as general as you can get. :P
Do you have yours in groups? Do you think it's okay to have one? I noticed the guy who has them on aquabid says they can be kept in pairs or groups. I don't want any lonely kids.

[Puffer Pita]

At least they told you it was freshwater and to feed it meaty foods. More than a lot of people get.

No, they do not do well in groups. That's what I mean by evil. The minute they get into the same tank, one goes after the other. So they are in separate tanks. All puffers are fine as solos and should be kept that way with very few exceptions (namely DPs kept together or SAPs). These guys in particular cannot be kept in pairs or groups.

[Ltrepeter2000]

If the dealer is in NJ they probably will not allow you to pick it up unless the dealer is actually running a store. There are some really weird laws in NJ about businesses and dealers ship the fish to avoid any kind of set up. I have ordered from a guy there before and wanted to pick up as well but he insisted the fish had to be shipped.

[Sue Gremlin]

I love puffers because they are evil, I TOTALLY understand. I just like to be sure that I am doing right by my future little dude since I haven't been able to figure out what type of puffer I was talking about until now. Thanks again for the information!

Incidentally, the aquabid guy told me he wouldn't allow me to come to his house, but I could meet him at the corner store and pick the fish up. Seemed weird until I read your post, Ltrepeter. Hm. Interesting.

[Puffer Pita]

Maybe he just doesn't want strangers to know where he lives. Yup, I love puffers, even though one of the buggers bit me the other day and went carpet surfing. Damn it hurt!