Moray Eels & Puffer Fish - Fresh/Brack/Salt Water?

Hi All,

I have a question to ask of some of the more experienced/knowledgeable (SP?) fish keepers.

Are Moray Eels & Puffer Fish considered Fresh/Brackish/Salt water fish?

To my reading and understanding both Morays and Puffers are considered to be either Brack or Salt water fish, but I keep coming across some conflicting views regarding this. I've heard that some Eels are born in fresh water but as they get older become more Brack/Salt water, whereas some petshops are selling them as being totally fresh water, is this true, has there been a Moray that has been bred to live solely in fresh water? I've heard the same story regarding Puffers, I know that we have a couple of members that currently own Puffers that might be able to shed a little light on this matter for me.

TIA.

 

With puffers it depends what species that you have. The dwarf/pygmy puffer for eg is a totally freshwater puffer fish originating out of india. So I would conclude that you have to know the specific species of morey or puffer that you are dealing with and only then can your question be answered as there are most definitely only fresh, brackish and salt varieties of puffers morey eels i am not aware of.

 

The Puffers seem to be the spotted ones. The ones that you see most often at pet shops. I have yet to see a dwarf or pygmy puffer at a lfs here in JHB. I think that they are brought in only for special orders, but I may be wrong.

 

i have seen dwarf puffers as a pet store at the randburg waterfront recently. i wanted 1 sooo badly and then i researched them and found out how aggressive they are and how much water they need that i opted out and decided that a betta would be a better choice.

 

The morays are collected as juveniles in fresh and brackish waters, and sold to the pet stores as such. Then pet stores sell them as 'fully freshwater' because they sell a whole lot easier when people think they'll live in fresh. There is one truly freshwater moray, and even if you come across it in SA (unlikely), you won't like the price tag.

Furthermore, I would only recommend temporary care in brackish water. Adults, IMO, do a lot better in marine water.

 

This is a very big problem in my area too. This one lfs sells Moray's as a fresh water fish. This is not true. No matter what they tell you there.
See link http://suite101.com/article/keeping-freshwater-moray-eels-a332306.
If opting to get an eel, do proper research, because they are very particular about their conditions, and the stress due to poor conditions are usually fatal! They go on a hunger strike and can go up to 3 months before they die of hunger.
Once you get them to eat, you also have to be careful, because the pack a nasty twin set of jaws, that can do some serious damage!
I know that especially Archer fish (Toxotes jaculatrix) lives in brackish waters areas and goes to coral reef areas to spawn. The juveniles are then confined to brackish waters until they reach maturity in about 1-2years.