Pea puffer differences

[SlickNick]

Hello everyone I have two pea puffers. I’ve had them for going on 7 months now. When I got them they were absolutely tiny! I started with 3 but one eventually passed away. The two I have look totally different than each other I was curious if one was male and the other female I’ll post a couple pics they are actually screenshots from a video because it’s hard to get a photo with them both next to each other at the same time! The smaller whiter one has always been the runt and hasn’t grown as quickly it also likes to hide out more than the other one. Let me know what you guys think

 

[kallililly1973]

I think u might be right in thinking one is male and one is female. Others will chime in with a better answer

 

[ChrissFishes01]

It looks like you're probably right, although from the pic it's hard to tell.

Males will usually have "wrinkles" behind their eyes - some light-colored lines. They also tend to be a bit more green-colored than females will. Females will lack the wrinkles and will be more brown overall.

 

[SlickNick]

Yeah the larger more yellow one seems to have eye wrinkles and then the smaller one that is white on the belly doesn’t

 

[aquachris]

So the more yellowish one sure looks like a male with wrinkles.. some males you'll spot a patch on their belly (like a line). The lighter is likely female.

I'm a bit nervous on the males tummy, I know you said you had them 7 months, but is it normally like that? Generally we dont like to see them sunken in like that, a "normal" non-full belly would look more like the lighter/female. Often our lil murder beans come with parasites/etc since they are wild caught. Not sure if you did a deworming cycle or not?

 

[SlickNick]

So the more yellowish one sure looks like a male with wrinkles.. some males you'll spot a patch on their belly (like a line). The lighter is likely female.

I'm a bit nervous on the males tummy, I know you said you had them 7 months, but is it normally like that? Generally we dont like to see them sunken in like that, a "normal" non-full belly would look more like the lighter/female. Often our lil murder beans come with parasites/etc since they are wild caught. Not sure if you did a deworming cycle or not?

Thank you for your concern! I have done two cycles of deworming on them! I believe the reason for him looking a little thin is I ran out of snails recently and didn’t get a chance to get more last weekend due to my sons bday and being busy! I work two jobs and am unable to go until this weekend. I still feed frozen brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms each morning I occasionally see them eat it but most of the time it’s just the shrimp that eat it. It’s really frustrating trying to get them to eat anything but snails! I’ve had this issue with them the entire 7 months of owning them but I usually always have some snails in there for them. I thought after some time they would get used to eating frozen foods but they are just so picky!

 

[ChrissFishes01]

Thank you for your concern! I have done two cycles of deworming on them! I believe the reason for him looking a little thin is I ran out of snails recently and didn’t get a chance to get more last weekend due to my sons bday and being busy! I work two jobs and am unable to go until this weekend. I still feed frozen brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms each morning I occasionally see them eat it but most of the time it’s just the shrimp that eat it. It’s really frustrating trying to get them to eat anything but snails! I’ve had this issue with them the entire 7 months of owning them but I usually always have some snails in there for them. I thought after some time they would get used to eating frozen foods but they are just so picky!

Mine have always taken baby brine shrimp really well - I usually feed a ton of it whenever I first get them to put on some weight. They're not hard to hatch, so it may be something to look into.

But, I do agree, he does look really thin.

 

[aquachris]

Totally agree with HarrisonAquatics - I've used BBS often to help "fatten-up" those slim ones like that

But could just be him, he might be the type that just isn't going to gain or show much more in a belly. As long as he is happy an seems healthy otherwise, it just maybe him! We won't tell him he's different

Also, yes, they are picky little snobs! LOL!

 

[SlickNick]

He definitely is usually more plump! They usually give in and eat frozen brine shrimp. I’ve been thinking about bbs lately! I get live brine shrimp but they are a little big so they don’t go after them much at all. They are definitely the trickiest fish to feed that I’ve kept!

 

[ChrissFishes01]

He definitely is usually more plump! They usually give in and eat frozen brine shrimp. I’ve been thinking about bbs lately! I get live brine shrimp but they are a little big so they don’t go after them much at all. They are definitely the trickiest fish to feed that I’ve kept!

You can get the DIY hatchery kits that you just screw a 2 liter pop bottle into for like $15. Or, you can get something like the Ziss hatchery for $50 - expensive, but after trying both (plus some DIY set ups), the Ziss hatchery is worth it!

 

[SlickNick]

You can get the DIY hatchery kits that you just screw a 2 liter pop bottle into for like $15. Or, you can get something like the Ziss hatchery for $50 - expensive, but after trying both (plus some DIY set ups), the Ziss hatchery is worth it!

I’m willing to pay the extra money for quality and ease of use.

 

[ChrissFishes01]

I did! I use their eggs, their usb air pump, a ziss airstone and a cheap heater. I get eggs in around 30 hours, and big hatches.

 

[SlickNick]

Awesome I already have one of the ziss air stones and the usb air pump. I’m already part of the way there! I’m gonna give it a shot! Thanks again
Awesome I already have one of the ziss air stones and the usb air pump. I’m already part of the way there! I’m gonna give it a shot! Thanks again

 

[aquachris]

Agreed with HarrisonAquatics on the eggs... I know a few people complain on the price, but the hatch rate I've had is amazing. I've not tried the ziss hatchery... I will probably get it once I sell off a batch of babies and get money for it lol.

 

[SlickNick]

I’m sure one can of eggs would last me forever! I only have 3 tanks currently

 

[ChrissFishes01]

I’m sure one can of eggs would last me forever! I only have 3 tanks currently

For reference, I have issues going through 1 tsp of brine shrimp (a normal hatch) in 3 days (the period in where they're really nutritious), and that's feeding a lot of brine to 7 different tanks. I've started doing 3/4 of a tsp, and even then I end up taking leftovers to work and feeding it to the fish there.

So 1 can of eggs is gonna last me for months, so for one pea puffer, I honestly think one can will do him for life. Hatch rates will decrease as the eggs age, but as long as you keep them sealed in the fridge, they should be good enough for one pea puffer.

 

[aquachris]

Since my batch of angel babies in going through faster than ever lol. Used to be an occasional treat for puffers.

 

[ChrissFishes01]

Here's a short video of my pea puffer eating BBS. Made me think of this thread while I was feeding him!