Pignose Puffers - Tetraodon Suvattii

[timmystood]

Hi Guys

I've been through loads of websites and the general view to sexing Tetraodon suvattii is that thre is no difference between the males and females. However, I just though i'd ask on here to see if anybody knows any visual differences between the sexes just incase the information wasn't well known.

Cheers
Tim

 

[nmonks]

Not aware of anything reliable. I'd go by behaviour perhaps. The more territorial specimens are likely to be males, and the specimens they tolerate are more likely to be females. But hardly a reliable approach.

Cheers, Neale

 

[timmystood]

That's great thanks, Neale.

I was pretty sure that there wasn't a sure way of sexing them but knew that somebody would have a little hint or tip about sexing them!
Reason I ask is that I got in 3 Tetraodon suvattii for the shop where I work. I've had them in there for about 3months now. One of them died about 4 weeks after being introduced to the shop but the other two are doing fine. I'm thinking about trying a breeding project with them but obviously wanted to try and make sure I got a male and female first.
There is a definate difference between the two of them. One eats alot more and generally gets the best caves while the other will just settle where it can - hopefully a male/female pair???

Cheers, Tim

 

[nmonks]

This species isn't especially aggressive, and groups have been maintained in aquaria of not exceptional size. They are territorial but not especially active. Plenty of plants and other hiding places will help the fish define their territories. If you have two that get along, it may well be you have a pair. How big are they? I'm assuming that given a maximum length of 15 cm, sexual maturity won't occur until they're at least 8 cm long.

However, subdominant males may retain female colour patterns or display "non-aggression" colour patterns. They may be tolerated by the dominant male up to a point, but will be pushed away from food and from the best places to see any passing females (i.e., the open part of the tank). Generally what happens is the dominant male tolerates other males while they're young, but becomes more aggressive as they mature, and completely hostile once any females appear.

Cheers, Neale

 

[timmystood]

OK Neale, thank you.

They are probably about 6-7cm long now, so a decent size.
From what you are saying is sounds very difficult to judge if I have a pair or not!! I suppose the only true way of getting a breeding project going is to get a group of say 5? Or would that not be good practice??

Cheers, Tim

 

[nmonks]

They are probably about 6-7cm long now, so a decent size.

A good size for getting multiple specimens living together, yes. But unlikely to be sexually mature yet.

From what you are saying is sounds very difficult to judge if I have a pair or not!!

Indeed.

I suppose the only true way of getting a breeding project going is to get a group of say 5? Or would that not be good practice??

Actually standard practise, much like cichlids. Keep an odd-numbered group, and then remove any surplus specimens. Or alternatively, keep the group if they get along okay, but move the mated pair to a smaller breeding tank, and after spawning, return the female to the main tank.

This species has been bred a few times, so information is out there.

Cheers, Neale

 

[timmystood]

Yeah I've been trying to find some concrete information but everyone that has done this seems to have just been lucky and moreover, hasn't been able to either identify which pair, in a group, has mated, or any difference between the male and female. However, it is generally agreed that the male will protect the eggs but not the fry.

My two main concerns are:
- Trying to get more to get along with the two I already have
- Figuring out with of the group are 'surplus' after I notice eggs.

 

[nmonks]

This is why these fish aren't bred as often as convict cichlids! And why people who manage it get written about in fish magazines!

Yes: a lot of it comes down to luck. There are plenty of stories about people breeding "impossible" fish like clown loaches, spiny eels and monos, but you don't see any stories that tell you how those people breed them again and again. While I have the greatest admiration for people who can manage these things even once, there's a world of difference between managing the feat just the one time and actually coming up with a system that can be reproduced by anyone, anywhere.

Cheers, Neale

My two main concerns are:
- Trying to get more to get along with the two I already have
- Figuring out with of the group are 'surplus' after I notice eggs.

 

[timmystood]

Yeah I agree, it's very frustrating!

I think I will try and get another 3. Hopefully I can introduce these to the 2 I have (I'll stick them in a new, bigger tank together) and then provide plenty of caves and then just hope for the best!!

Thanks for your help Neale.

 

[nmonks]

Good luck, and keep us posted. I think your plan is a good one. If nothing else, this should be a fabulous aquarium to set up and enjoy.

Cheers, Neale

I think I will try and get another 3. Hopefully I can introduce these to the 2 I have (I'll stick them in a new, bigger tank together) and then provide plenty of caves and then just hope for the best!!

 

[timmystood]

Cheers Neale.

Like you say, if nothing else, it's an excuse for 'another' puffer tank! The breeding will probably seem easy in comparison to pursuading the Mrs to let me have another tank!!

 

[nmonks]

I have four Carinotetraodon irrubesco in my big community tank, including a female who I'm sure is sexually mature because she gets so round sometimes she's like a ball. I really should make an effort to try and spawn them. But not enough space! All my small tanks have livebearers in them, either Limia, Ameca, or halfbeaks.

On the plus side, puffers do have the "cute" factor. No-other fish gets as many of the fairer sex into fishkeeping than puffers. And for that, I'm very grateful indeed!

Cheers, Neale