Puffer Fish

Puffers are comical looking fish, especially when they are “puffed up” and look like a ball with fins. By rapidly swallowing water or air, they are able to expand their bodies up to 2 times their normal size in order to deter predators. Many species also have spines covering their body as added protection. Although most Puffers are not very colorful, they make up for it with their character and personality. When kept in an aquarium, Puffers quickly adapt and recognize their owners and will always be “begging” for a meal. Puffers come from warmer ocean waters around the world where they feed mainly on crustaceans and mollusks. They have specialized teeth and powerful jaws that allow them to crush the hard shells of their prey. Puffers vary in size – the smaller species only growing to 3 inches and the largest reaching over 2 feet in length. Puffers are generally hardy and do best in large tanks with lots of swimming space and some rocky décor for shelter. Larger species definitely require an efficient filtration system along with frequent water changes to deal with the large amounts of food consumed and waste produced. Puffers will eat all types of food and should be fed a variety of meaty foods such as shrimp, fish, clams, etc., along with a supplement of vegetable fare to provide necessary nutrients. It is also important to provide hard shelled crabs, mussels, and shellfish in their diet to wear down their teeth and prevent them from overgrowing. Puffers are semi-aggressive and should be kept one per tank. They will eat smaller fishes and should not be housed with any delicate slow-moving species.

Description: The Scribbled Mappa Puffer is not often available. When available jump on this beauty as they are hard to find. The Scribbled Mappa Puffer, has a very distinct appearance. The main color ranges from light tan to a yellow with a artistic scribbled black pattern throughout the body. Like all puffers, it lacks any pelvic fins, but has learned to use the pectoral fins to move about the aquarium. The Scribbled Mappa Puffer is semi aggressive towards other fish and is suitable for mostly fish only aquariums.

The Scribbled Mappa Puffer is a hardy fish and it needs minimum maintenance. When threatened or stressed, the The Scribbled Mappa Puffer has the quality of doubling its original size to protect itself from predators. It should not be exposed to air while puffing, as the ingested air is too tough to expel. Forcing this fish to repeatedly puff may result in the death of this fish. The Scribbled Mappa Puffer would exhibit this characteristic as only a last resort, because it would lose its total mobility.

Once adjusted to aquarium life, the The Scribbled Mappa Puffer does great, but it is slower to adapt than other members of the genus. This puffer is typically not aggressive. When first introduced into the aquarium this is a shy species, requiring a shelter or hiding place. Do not keep this fish in smaller tanks, it does not like confined spaces and will never adapt in such a situation.
Recommended Tank size: A 180 gallon or larger, fish-only aquarium with a good protein skimmer is suitable. Once it is fully adjusted to the aquarium it is a hardy fish that can do great in a large tank with bold fishes such as triggers, groupers and larger wrasse.
Food and diet: The Scribbled Mappa Puffer needs a varied diet of meaty foods including; squid, krill, clams, and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth.
Reef Compatability: It is not well-suited to the reef aquarium as it is likely to eat many types of sessile invertebrates.
Note: This fish ships in a very large box and requires us to charge an additional $25.00 shipping charge.
Level of Care: We guarantee that ALL aquariam species offered will arrive alive and in good condition. However, because of the increased level of care required for this species marked advance aquarist , they have been designated as "Advanced Aquarist Species," and Aquatic Connection cannot guarantee success after arrival. 
Acclimation Time: 3+ hours
Special Order: This is a special order item. Special order items cannot be canceled once you submit your order.
Approximate Purchase Size: Medium 4" to 6" Large 6" to 8" XLarge 8" to 10"

Description: The Golden Puffer also known as Golden Guinea Fowl Puffer and Golden Spotted Puffer is observed to change its colour during different stages of its life cycle namely black yellow and golden phase but this unique phenomenon is not demonstrated by the Golden Puffer when they are living in an aquarium. Like all puffers, it lacks any pelvic fins, but has learned to use the pectoral fins to move about the aquarium. The Golden Puffer is semi aggressive towards other fish and is suitable for mostly fish only aquariums.

The Golden Puffer is a hardy fish and it needs minimum maintenance. When threatened or stressed, the The Golden Puffer has the quality of doubling its original size to protect itself from predators. It should not be exposed to air while puffing, as the ingested air is too tough to expel. Forcing this fish to repeatedly puff may result in the death of this fish. The Golden Puffer would exhibit this characteristic as only a last resort, because it would lose its total mobility.

When the Golden Puffer fish is introduced into the tank, owing to its shy nature, it tries to hide itself. So a crevice or a cave provided in the tank makes the golden puffer comfortable to adapt itself, in course of time it comes out and spends more time in open. We should not do the mistake of keeping the Golden Puffer in smaller tanks as close, confined space makes it difficult, to adjust itself to the new surroundings, though it withdraws itself in the initial days in the aquarium, later being an hardy fish, it survives against bold fishes such as triggers, groupers and wrasse. The Golden Puffer is also a medium maintenance fish.
Recommended Tank size: A 100 gallon or larger, fish-only aquarium with a good protein skimmer is suitable. Once it is fully adjusted to the aquarium it is a hardy fish that can do great in a large tank with bold fishes such as triggers, groupers and larger wrasse.
Food and diet:The Golden Puffer needs a varied diet of meaty foods including; squid, krill, clams, and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth.
Reef Compatability: It is not well-suited to the reef aquarium as it is likely to eat many types of sessile invertebrates.
Note: This fish ships in a very large box and requires us to charge an additional $25.00 shipping charge.
Level of Care: We guarantee that ALL aquariam species offered will arrive alive and in good condition. However, because of the increased level of care required for this species marked advance aquarist , they have been designated as "Advanced Aquarist Species," and Aquatic Connection cannot guarantee success after arrival. 
Acclimation Time: 3+ hours
Special Order: This is a special order item. Special order items cannot be canceled once you submit your order.
Approximate Purchase Size: Medium 4" to 6" Large 6" to 8" XLarge 8" to 10"

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Please note: Aquatic Connection will not guarantee the coloration of corals as seen in your reef system.

Reason? Not all corals from our tanks and lighting will look the same when they are in your tanks. Everybody's tanks have different lighting setups, spectrums, combinations, etc. Aquatic Connection's tanks are lit by 400 watt 20K Halide bulbs. We use this combination for best growth. But for best viewing this is not the best lighting choice. Aquatic Connection photographs all polyps under Actinic only lighting. This brings out the true zoanthilia and protopalythoa colors. If your tank consists of all daylight (10K's, 14K's etc.) with minimal actinic lighting, your not going to see the vibrant true colors. We suggest you add true actinic lamps also and turn these on in the evening without the daylight lighting for proper color viewing.