Saying good bye to burrfish

Paul B · Jan 20, 2011

I feel bad but I have to say good bye to this little guy. I am donating him monday to a public aquarium on Eastern Long Island, Atlantis Marine World.
I collected him over two years ago and he is a great fish. Unfortunately, he has grown to almost 5" from this picture when he was the size of a marble.
He is in a 12 or 15 gallon tank and I want to take down that tank for now.
The Aquarium has a large puffer display and he may go in there. I am sure he will be happier in a multi thousand gallon tank than where he is.
Their northern range is Chesepeke Bay and he must have drifted up on the Gulf Stream.

Wy Renegade · Jan 20, 2011

Paul it is nice to see you having such success in keeping things, and I think it is great that you are donating them to a public aquarium once they outgrow your tank.

revhtree · Jan 20, 2011

At least you will be able to go see him! :D

Troylee · Jan 20, 2011

pretty cool paul.... i always loved that fish from the first day you got him and posted the pics...;)

Paul B · Jan 20, 2011

He is a cool fish but he will be much happier in a thousand gallon tank or whatever size they have.
I have always given away firh to public aquariums when I could no longer house them. He gets fresh clams or shrimp with worms every day. And in the summer live fiddler crabs. I hope his diet is the same there.

SaraB · Jan 20, 2011

That's awesome he gets to go to a big new home with your donation!

Paul B · Jan 21, 2011

I am sure he will text me from there after he meets (or eats) some new friends.

Paul B · Jan 24, 2011

He is gone. I brought him to the aquarium this morning. I can visit him for $25.00 like everyone else.
They don't know if they will display it or give it to another aquarium. They are afraid that burrfish are very prone to ich. (bunch of Sissies)
They are, but not from my tank. I have had him for over 2 years and my fish do not get ich. Well not in 30 years or so, Besides he has never been in a tank with other fish since I got him in the Atlantic.
All fish will get ich if they are not in perfect shape.
I took down that 15 gallon tank and transfered al the life to a 2 gallon tank. It is just about 25 local mud snails and some local grass shrimp. I just keep that tank for small interesting stuff I collect. The tank the burrfish was in was 63 degrees today but it is about 11 degrees outside. They are not totally tropical and don't mind a little cooler water. If it did not bother him in over 2 years I doubt it will bother him now. In the aquarium thay have him in a nice warm tropical tank. He will probably get ich from their fish and croak. Well at least I can say I tried.