I bought a what was told to be a valentini puffer from LFS. But i also know that filefish can look like them too. Is there an obvious way to tell the different? the more detail the easier for me? Also if mine is indeed a puffer how can i tell female or male? also can i get a sexed pair for my tank? Thanx
how to tell different between filefish and valentini puffer?
- Thread starter chkra_hp
- Start date
easy to tell difference.
"Canthigaster valentini (Bleeker 1853), Valentini's Sharpnose Puffer has a filefish mimic. You have to look close to discern Paraluterus prionurus even when accidentally shipped mixed in with valentine's puffer; as a file it has a two-spine dorsal that the puffers lack. This is a type of Batesian mimicry, with the file suffering less predation by pretending to be an unpalatable puffer. Two images of each, in the wild and aquariums of the Sharpnose Puffer (first two) and mimic Filefish."
this was taken from wetwebmedia. just see if the puffer has a twospined dorsal fin.
"Canthigaster valentini (Bleeker 1853), Valentini's Sharpnose Puffer has a filefish mimic. You have to look close to discern Paraluterus prionurus even when accidentally shipped mixed in with valentine's puffer; as a file it has a two-spine dorsal that the puffers lack. This is a type of Batesian mimicry, with the file suffering less predation by pretending to be an unpalatable puffer. Two images of each, in the wild and aquariums of the Sharpnose Puffer (first two) and mimic Filefish."
this was taken from wetwebmedia. just see if the puffer has a twospined dorsal fin.
here's a pic of the filefish...
http://www.mondomaldive-db.it/trova_fauna/pesce.asp?id=162
and the puffer...
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Tetraodo.../Canthigastrinae/Canthigaster_valentiniAQ.jpg
for comparison. hope that answers your question
http://www.mondomaldive-db.it/trova_fauna/pesce.asp?id=162
and the puffer...
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Tetraodo.../Canthigastrinae/Canthigaster_valentiniAQ.jpg
for comparison. hope that answers your question
How about sexing them?
I also have the Valentini puffer, the only difference with what I had seen in a store (and it appeared later, as it had grown) - the black line along the bottom of the belly.
I'm trying to be extra careful, already bought the adult male mandarin and adolescent male mandarin, mistaken by 5 people (including me) for female. Really don't have place for one more big tank - to save the weaker of the males.
I also have the Valentini puffer, the only difference with what I had seen in a store (and it appeared later, as it had grown) - the black line along the bottom of the belly.
I'm trying to be extra careful, already bought the adult male mandarin and adolescent male mandarin, mistaken by 5 people (including me) for female. Really don't have place for one more big tank - to save the weaker of the males.
just to be clear, the file looks like it has two dorsal fins. like blue pointed out, the valentini's is round. if you look at the link i posted you can see both of the file's dorsal fins.
sorry, don't know about sexing these guys in particular. maybe just look real hard? lol
sexing is always an open question when dealing with juveniles. Often, many species don't develop sexual differences until they are adults.
sorry, don't know about sexing these guys in particular. maybe just look real hard? lol
sexing is always an open question when dealing with juveniles. Often, many species don't develop sexual differences until they are adults.
It is easy to tell male and female Valentini's apart when they are adults. It took mine about 6 months untill I could tell. The main differences is the males have a dark colouration around their anus and have bright turquiose coloured lines branching out from their eyes. Females lack both these qualities.
If you post a pic of your Valentini I could try and have a go at identifying its sex.
Hope this helps
Jack
If you post a pic of your Valentini I could try and have a go at identifying its sex.
Hope this helps
Jack
Then it should be male:
I bought him very small, but as I checked the earlier photos, the line was always present, what is a good news:
The only problem was with not so successful dental surgery (the first cut ended in the middle of the second tooth, and under some angle. Filed, of course, but now he eats mostly small sized food (as humans are eating noodles) without being able to bite off. More than a month passed, still the same. But still full-bodied.
I know and tried to feed him shelfish, but he never ate it
I bought him very small, but as I checked the earlier photos, the line was always present, what is a good news:
The only problem was with not so successful dental surgery (the first cut ended in the middle of the second tooth, and under some angle. Filed, of course, but now he eats mostly small sized food (as humans are eating noodles) without being able to bite off. More than a month passed, still the same. But still full-bodied.
I know and tried to feed him shelfish, but he never ate it
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