#Auriglobus modestus

[aquariuminfobureau]

A brazen puffer

The bronze puffer, Auriglobus modestus, is recorded from the middle and lower stretches, of a few medium to large sized rivers in Southeast Asia. Thus it is considered as one of the true freshwater, rather than brackish pufferfishes. Lately, Europe has seen this species shipped, from the Indragiri. For reference, the Indragiri has an annual temperature average of 31 degrees centigrade, and a measured pH of 6.3. Other localities have different parameters, for example in the Baleh River Basin, which also yields A. modestus, the water pH is 7.2 and the temperture recorded at 25 degrees. Growing to a maximum length of just over 10 cm, or 4 inches, it is one of the smaller freshwater puffer fishes. This, and its appealing golden or bronze coloration, mean imports of this fish can cause a minor stir.

According to the literature, A. modestus is a hypercarnivore that reportedly devours small arthropods, some seeds, and some whole small fishes. Unfortunately for aquarists, the recorded diet of A. modestus, also includes nipped fins and scales. This is not the dietary spectrum of a peaceful community fish, and not surprisingly, this puffer has earned itself a reputation, as an aggressive fin biter. On the plus side, although plant seeds are recorded as items in their natural diet, A. modestus are disinterested in live, growing foliage, such as Cryptocoryne and Ceratopteris.