Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
Green Spotted Puffer / Brackish water
- tazdogue (tazdogue)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 15
- Thank you received: 0
How can tell if a puffer fish is male or female?
As puffers can be agressive to each other i was wondering do males go better with females or is it just pot luck?
Any information on puffers or brackish water would be greatly appreciated.
Glen
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
-
- Visitor
-
I assume you are talking about Tetraodon nigroviridis. You cannot sex puffers from external characteristics. So it's a bit of pot luck.
Where did you see it in Cork? The ones they had in North Main Street recently were Tetraodon fluviatilis, I think.
Brackish water tanks are quite a bit of effort since you will have to add salt and make sure you hit the salinity just right. A bit too much salt and you'll have a saltwater tank. So you will have to invest into a hydrometer.
Forget about plants, some Vallis on the outside.
The number of species commonly available are quite limited. I have seen bumblebee gobies available from time to time but puffers might consider them a snack for in between meals.
Mollies are another option but again can be snack size.
Have a look at this link, quite informative and they give you set-uo examples:
badmanstropicalfish.com/brackish/brackish.html
Holger
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- JohnH (John)
-
- Offline
- Administrator
-
- Posts: 6067
- Thank you received: 857
John
Location:
N. Tipp
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
ITFS member.
It's a long way to Tipperary.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
-
- Visitor
-
potentially, swamped at work at present. Once Q1 is over I might get around to do something about it gain.
Glen, are you interested to start a club down here and where in Cork are you.
Holger
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Sushi (Sushi)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 30
- Thank you received: 0
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy!
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
-
- Visitor
-

I'm not into something deadly serious society, more into a friendly get together. If you motorless and want a trip to Fins and things in Midleton, I'm going there at least twice a month on either a Saturday or Sunday, give me a call on 087 2305102.
Holger
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- Sean (Fr. Jack)
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
- Posts: 811
- Thank you received: 1
now that I have your number all the heavy breathing Darth vader prank jokes will start.call on 087 2305102.
Holger

That would be a ecumenical matter!!!
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- tazdogue (tazdogue)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 15
- Thank you received: 0
I dont mind getting the salt and the hydrometer i was just wondering if it was something that others have any experience with? I would love to set up a puffer only tank with one or 2 in it.
Does any one out there have any Tetraodon fluviatilis and what are your experiences with them?
Im relatively new to the game but keep me up to date about the club, i could very well be interested alright . Im in the southside of the city.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
-
- Visitor
-
Anyway back to your brackish water set up. Here goes what I know about puffers:
You'll need plenty of snails, puffers have to wear their teeth down. Some of them are not exactly sociable creatures, however, mating can involve some biting as well. Salinity and other water issues are well explained in the link I posted earlier.
Oh, before I forget, never ever haul them out of the water. Blowing up with air is potentially lethal. Even bad them under water when you buy them, and don't eat them

Please Log in to join the conversation.
- tazdogue (tazdogue)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 15
- Thank you received: 0
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
-
- Visitor
-

I have bred bumblee gobies before if that is any help.
Holger
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- tazdogue (tazdogue)
- Offline
- Junior Member
-
- Posts: 15
- Thank you received: 0
What are the hints for the puffers?
Please Log in to join the conversation.
- apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
-
- Visitor
-
You have to provide the proper water conditions for any species you keep and it's always easier to add something to the wwater than take it out.
For example, say you live in a hard water area and intend to keep discus. You will need an RO unit to get rid of the hardness and then cut the RO water with tapwater or add special salts since you do not want to risk a ph crash. You, on the other hand will only have to add salt to your water and watch the salinity. No risk of a pH crash.
there is a puffer forum on the web. here's the link:
www.thepufferforum.com
Please Log in to join the conversation.