Sap's And Beak Clipping.

[divegirl]

Hi, I'm in the process of setting up a new tank and after much research and deliberation I'm finally maybe sort of considering some larger F/W Puffers [I'd love to get some Green spotted ones....but don't feel ready for Brackish just yet!].....So I 've been looking at SAP's or Red Eyed Red Tailed ones. The Red Eyes seem pretty hard to get hold of around here, well I can't find any! Soooooooo to SAP's.....the only thing that puts me off is that they may need their beaks cut!!!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not squeemish, I already keep Degus [small furry creatures] and my oldest one needs his teeth clipped once a month, but he just needs wrapping in a tea towel and a set of nail clippers!!!!! But......the thought of using clove oil to 'knock' a fish out scares the life out of me.
Any thoughts on this?

Lisa x

 

[nmonks]

Both SAPs and irrubesco puffers are superb aquarium fish, though very, very different in temperament. They get along superbly well, so if you have an adequately large aquarium, you might consider keeping both (I do!). Something upwards of 180 litres would be enough space for three to six SAPs and at least two pairs of irrubesco puffers. One species swims about at the top, the other mostly at the bottom, but if you add floating plants, the irrubesco puffers will happily come to the top and beg for food. Both species are seasonal, so pick up whichever species is on sale now, and then add the other later.

Wildwoods for example gets both species in regularly and they do mail order. Any halfway decent aquarium shop can order both species; places like Maidenhead Aquatics routinely have both species, the SAPs going for around £9-10 each, and the irrubesco puffers for less than £5.

Anyway, clipping teeth isn't a big deal. You need cuticle clippers and clove oil, both of which you can pick up at a pharmacy. You may even have these already. The method has been written about many times here at TFF; I have my own summary on my web page so won't bother writing it all out again.

It's very easy, much less stressful than cutting, say, cat claws. I'd recommend doing a dry run first so you get the idea of timing sorted out. In other words, catch and sedate the puffer, and once it's konked out, dangle it in a net back in the aquarium until it starts swimming normally (usually takes a minute). Now you're happy about the timing and the method, try again the next day with the cuticle clippers; cut the upper beak first and the lower beak second (if needed, for some reason often isn't).

Cheers, Neale

 

[divegirl]

Hi Neale, thank you for you clear and concise answer

My Tank is only 35 us gallons [127 litres], so I was planning on just keeping a pair of either fish [although I have read that irrubescu will tolerate some tank mates]. How does that sound?
I like the idea of doing a 'dry run' first....build up a bit of confidence!!!!

If I'm just going to keep a pair of either am i right to assume I should try for a male/ female pair [although I have no interest in breeding]?

Many thanks

Lisa x

 

[nmonks]

I find irrubesco puffers entirely peaceful; I've mixed mine with loaches, glassfish, fast moving tetras, Ameca splendens, Synodontis... my feeling is anything that moves reasonably briskly and doesn't have long fins will be left alone. They mostly "zoom" at one another, being somewhat hierarchical, but otherwise pretty much the mildest puffers I've ever kept. I've bought that from two different shops some two years apart, and the new pair get along just fine with the older pair and neither shows anything other than mild territoriality towards other fish.

For whatever reason, my irrubesco puffers don't seem to want to breed. The female fills up with eggs now and again, but the male mostly chases his reflection in the back glass. Possibly in the right tank with lots of Java moss they'd spawn, but otherwise, I don't think you're going to be swamped with eggs! They hardly show much interest in one another beyond (very brief) territorial squabbles.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Jonathangerous]

I've had experiences with irrubescos being pretty pissy, for what it's worth.