Amazon Puffer (Colomesus asellus)
| Amazon Puffer Colomesus asellus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Amazon Puffer |
| Name Lat. | Colomesus asellus |
| Family | Puffers |
| Family lat. | Tetraodontidae |
| Order | Puffers & Filefishes |
| Order lat. | Tetraodontiformes |
| Origin | Peru |
| Habitat | Streams, rivers |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| pH | 5.5-8.0 |
| Behavior | Semi-aggressive |
| Keeping | Pair, group |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Reproduction | Egg scatterer |
| Breeding | None reported |
| Life Span | 8-10 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 12 cm |
| Temperature | 20-26 °C |
| Hardness | 5-15 °dH |
| Aquarium | ~ 250 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 5" |
| Temperature | 68-79 °F |
| Hardness | 89-267 ppm |
| Aquarium | ~ 65 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the isopod pufferfish is the catchment area of the Amazon in Peru. There they live in streams and small rivers where they often stay in groups in the densely overgrown shore regions with weak currents.
Maintenance
The aquarium should have a dense border and background planting, with many hiding places (stones, roots) and provide sufficient swimming space. A dark, fine sandy substrate covered with some foliage (e.g. sea almond leaves), some shaded light (floating plants) and soft, slightly acidic water with a weak current is ideal.
No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.
Diet
They are food specialists that eat almost exclusively water snails and crustaceans. The food supply therefore consists mainly of snails (e.g. bubble snails or apple snails) supplemented with live or frozen food, such as shrimps, mosquito larvae, artemia, mysis etc., as well as mussel and crab meat or a frozen special food mixture. Flake or granulated food is rarely accepted. It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day, which are eaten within a few minutes. A regular and varied diet promotes health and increases resistance.
Behaviour and compatibility
It is recommended to keep these relatively peaceful puffer fish in pairs or better in a group of 6-8 animals. A larger, richly structured tank is recommended for group keeping. They are considered fin twitchers and should not be kept with long-finned fish. A socialization with e.g. larger barbs and rasboras as well as peaceful cichlids is well possible.
Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water condition and water temperature may be socialized.
Sex dimorphism
The sexes are difficult to distinguish. The males remain slightly smaller than the more plump females.
Reproduction and breeding
There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.
Important
They need the hard shells of snails to wear down their teeth, which are constantly growing back. Too long teeth make it impossible for them to eat and they would starve.
The isopod pufferfishes are very similar to the parrot pufferfishes (Colomesus psittacus). The parrot pufferfish, which are rarely found in freshwater, have 6 setae (body spots) unlike the isopod pufferfish which have only 5 setae.
Pufferfish can inflate to twice their size by filling their expandable stomach with air or water
A cup filled with aquarium water, not a trap net, should be used for transferring or transferring pufferfish to prevent them from becoming airborne.
The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the pollutant level has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Werner Winter; Image: petdata
Source: BMEL (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); BAENSCH & RIEHL (2006): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 5, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF