Edit Pao baileyi

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Name

Scientific name

Pao baileyi

Described by

Authority Sontirat, Year 1985, Bracketed

Family

Tetraodontidae

Common names

Hairy Puffer

Photograph credits

All 2 credited

Summary

The hairy puffer, Pao baileyi, is a puffer from Thailand and Laos, where it inhabits rocky areas of large rivers, including whitewater. Rar…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

120mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 75 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Minimum height 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

23–27°C

Hardness

Not recorded

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Territorial

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Laos, Thailand

Writing

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Thailand and Laos.

Habitat

Inhabits rocky areas of large rivers, including areas of whitewater.

Aquarium size

75 ∗ 30 ∗ 30 cm - ~68 litres.

Maintenance

A biotope aquarium would consist of a sandy substrate littered with smooth, water worn rocks. Arrange these to provide some hiding places for the fish, and try…

Water conditions

Temperature: 23 – 27 °C pH: No precise details available, although at least one batch of fish was collected in water of around neutral pH. Assume a range betwe…

Diet

Relishes all kinds of shellfish, as well as worms and other live and frozen foods. It should be fed snails and unshelled shellfish (such as crab legs, mussels …

Behaviour and compatibility

A generally aggressive and intolerant species that really should be kept alone. Its beak-like mouth can easily bite chunks from other fish, or in extreme cases…

Sexual dimorphism

Males are said to have a greater number of cirri (the hair-like growths that characterise this species) than females, but this is unconfirmed as others report …

Reproduction

Not thought to have been achieved in aquaria, probably due to its temperament (and pricetag!) restricting the number of hobbyists prepared to make a serious at…

Notes

Puffer fish are so called as they have the ability to inflate their elastic stomachs with water or air. This is usually a response to some kind of threat, alth…

Puffer fish are so called as they have the ability to inflate their elastic stomachs with water or air. This is usually a response to some kind of threat, although in the aquarium many specimens appear to inflate themselves for no apparent reason. The fish becomes 2 or 3 times it's normal size, which makes the fish both big enough to scare away many potential predators, and difficult to swallow.

Many parts of the body of puffers contain the deadly neurotoxin tetrodoxin. This is the same poison found in the notorious blue-ringed octopus. When ingested in sufficient quantities, it can cause paralysis and death. As yet there is no known antitoxin and to humans it is over 1000 times deadlier than cyanide. Grotesquely, the victim usually remains conscious as he or she becomes paralysed. It's a famous delicacy in Japan, but is prepared only by highly-trained chefs, and even then many people have died from eating it.

The hairy puffer is rare in the hobby, and tends to command a relatively high price when it is available. The exact nature of the cirri that cover the fish is unknown, but would appear to be related to gender, or possibly camouflage. It can change colour depending on its mood, and, uniquely among puffers, is completely scaleless.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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References

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Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References