Pufferfish ID  2/09/04
Thanks for the quick response!
But... that is not the puffer I have. I have kept Colomesus asellus. This
puffer looks very muck like Tetraodon lineatus. Exact body shape, multiple
black and gold, thin horizontal lines, not fat bands like asellus. Any other ideas? Its definitely a puffer that gets big.
<Maybe a parrot puffer (Colomesus psittacus)?  See: http://tekipaki.jp/~puffer/puffer/colomesus/psittacus/index.htm  (I know you said horizontal stripes) If not, why don't you try looking here: http://tekipaki.jp/~puffer/puffer/tetraodontidae.htm  If you want to translate the site, paste the address here: http://babelfish.altavista.com/translate.dyn
Let me know what you find ~PP>

Colomesus psittacus
I have a 75 gallon freshwater tank with the following fish: 5 green barbs, 2 Bala shark, 3 dwarf Gourami, and 2 Suckermouth cats. I just bought 3 Colomesus psittacus which the aquarium store said were compatible with my set up and would only grow to 4-6". (tank has small pebble base, lots of plants, large rock formations and driftwood.) The information I have been
able to find on this fish is conflicting. Are they freshwater or brackish?
<Actually kind of both... found along Atlantic coast and inland waters... please see here on fishbase.org: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID= and the Freshwater Puffer FAQs on our site here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwpufferfaqs.htm >
Will they become aggressive? They are fairly peaceful now. I don't want to have these little guys either get hurt, or harm my other fish. Thanks,
Happy Holidays, Elizabeth
<I've had good luck with this species leaving most everything else alone (unlike so many other freshwater to brackish puffers), and all but your Gouramis are fast, smart enough to stay/get out of their way. I would just keep them fed (meaty foods daily) and keep an eye on them. Be chatting. Bob Fenner>