Sometimes called the 'Helicopter Fish' ...

Helicopter fish as it is sometimes called, as it can hover in a particular place and also glides like a helicopter under water.

Freshwater Puffer a fish usually ignored, however they are as good as their saltwater cousins. Here I am presenting you with a short details of some of the Freshwater Puffers commonly found in stores.

Auriglobus modestus

Common Name: Bronze Puffer
Other Common Names: Golden Puffer
Family: Tetraodontidae
Distribution: S.E. Asia - Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam. Major rivers such as the Mekong
Water Parameters: Temp: 23 - 26C (74 - 80F); pH:6.0 - 7.8
Personality/Temperament: Agressive; Hunts and searches for food.
Max. Size: ~4 inches (10.6cm)
Estimated Lifespan: At least ten years
Sexual Dimorphism: Unknown. Cannot tell genders apart by eye.
Diet: Live and frozen foods (not fish), snails, freeze-dried krill, frozen shrimp, bloodworms- live or frozen, ghost shrimp (gut-loaded), and other molluscs and crustaceans. These puffers must be fed a daily diet of snails to prevent beak overgrowth
Care: Pufferfish are extremly sensitive to nitrites and ammonia and should only be introduced into a fully cycled aquarium. Due to their messy eating habits, overfiltration is recommended.
Breeding: We have not found any record of this Auriglobus Modestus having bred in captivity. Maybe yours will be the first?
Minimum Tank Size: 20g(US)

Carinotetraodon irrubesco

Common Name: Red Tailed Redeye Puffer
Family: Tetraodontidae
Distribution: Sumatra,Borneo
Water Parameters: Temp: 23 - 26C (74 - 80F); pH:6.0 - 7.8
Personality/Temperament: Very mixed. Some individuals can be very aggressive, others can be very timid. Territorial.
Activity: Inactive during light hours. Very active hunter after dark.
Max. Size: 4.5cm
Estimated Lifespan: Not known
Diet: Live and frozen foods (not fish), snails, freeze-dried krill, frozen shrimp, bloodworms- live or frozen, ghost shrimp (gut-loaded), and other molluscs and crustaceans. These puffers must be fed a daily diet of snails to prevent beak overgrowth
Sexual Dimorphism: The male is substantially larger than the female and their colourations differ dramatically. The male has a ridge or "keel" which it will expand in courtship or while threatned. See photos for differences.
Care: Pufferfish are extremly sensitive to nitrites and ammonia and should only be introduced into a fully cycled aquarium. Due to their messy eating habits, overfiltration is recommended.
Breeding: Can be bred.
Minimum Tank Size: 20g(US)
Other Notes: These puffers become very active under dark and require a heavily planted tank with lots of decor and hiding places. Some have been succesfully kept with their own species and C.travancoricus/C.asellus, whilst others have killed everything in sight.

Carinotetraodon salivator

Common Name: Striped Redeye Puffer
Family: Tetraodontidae
Distribution: Malaysia,Borneo
Water Parameters: Temp: 23 - 26C (74 - 80F); pH:6.0 - 7.8
Personality/Temperament: Agressive; Hunts and searches for food.
Activity: Inactive during light hours. Very active hunter after dark.
Max. Size: 5cm
Estimated Lifespan: Not known
Sexual Dimorphism: The male is substansially larger than the female and their colorations differ dramatically. The male has a ridge or "keel" which it will expand in courtship or while threatned.
Diet: Live and frozen foods (not fish), snails, freeze-dried krill, frozen shrimp, bloodworms- live or frozen, ghost shrimp (gut-loaded), and other molluscs and crustaceans. These puffers must be fed a daily diet of snails to prevent beak overgrowth
Care: Pufferfish are extremly sensitive to nitrites and ammonia and should only be introduced into a fully cycled aquarium. Due to their messy eating habits, overfiltration is recommended.
Breeding: Awaiting information
Minimum Tank Size: 10g(US)
Other Notes: This puffer is very rarely seen in the trade. It is often confused with C.irrubesco and C.lorteti to which it is closely related.