Red Eye Puffer (Carinotetraodon lorteti)
| Red Eye Puffer Carinotetraodon lorteti | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Red Eye Puffer |
| Name Lat. | Carinotetraodon lorteti |
| Synonym | Tetraodon lorteti |
| Family | Puffers |
| Family lat. | Tetraodontidae |
| Order | Puffers & Filefishes |
| Order lat. | Tetraodontiformes |
| Origin | Southeast Asia |
| Habitat | Streams, rivers |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| Behavior | Aggressive |
| Keeping | Individual, pair |
| Care Level | Difficult |
| Reproduction | Substrate spawner |
| Breeding | Difficult |
| Life Span | 5-8 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 6 cm |
| Temperature | 24-28 °C |
| Hardness | 3-10 °dH |
| Aquarium | ~ 100 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 2.4" |
| Temperature | 75-82 °F |
| Hardness | 53-178 ppm |
| Aquarium | ~ 25 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The range of the crested pufferfish extends from Thailand through Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia to Indonesia. There they live in slow flowing streams and small rivers as well as in stagnant waters with dense underwater vegetation and overhanging bank vegetation.
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 and soft, slightly acidic water without 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, eating 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 them singly or in pairs. Internally they behave very territorial and are occasionally incompatible and biting towards other fish. Several animals can only be kept together in a much larger and richly structured tank. They can be socialized with not too small, robust fish, but are only conditionally suitable for a community tank. Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water quality and water temperature may be socialized.
Sex dimorphism
The male is more colorful and has a white fringed dorsal fin and a red colored ventral underside. The female is smaller and rounder.
Reproduction and breeding
Comb puffer fish are substrate spawners. When a harmonizing pair has been found, the female spawns up to 300 eggs on a plant (Java moss). The male intensively defends the clutch. After about 48 hours the larvae hatch and swim free after 2 days.
Young fish must be fed several times a day with special rearing food (e.g. Brachionus). In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the spawn is easy prey.
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.
Comb puffers are able to vary their color according to the environment and mood.
Pufferfish can inflate to twice their size by filling their expandable stomach with air or water
A cup filled with aquarium water, not a catch net, should be used for transferring or inserting them 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); RIEHL & BAENSCH (2006): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF