my puffer problems

[rewindthelies]

i have 5 gsp. they where stunted when i rescued them. they are all foot ball shaped but have started to get a little rounder in the middle. they all glass surf why? i have live rock and marco algae for them to explore and even hermit crabs to hunt. if they arnt glass surfing they are at the bottem loling about some times meeting me at the glass or to find a new spot to laze around. i try and feed a no more then a teaspoon of anything any more. they get snails (50 or so) a week dried shrimp, a few pellets maybe blood worms, worms. i change which one they get everyday. as treats maybe twice a month ill do meal worms and scallops, some times i get a cray fish.

if i am over feeding what steps can i do to get their chub down? how can i get them moving a bit more? the power head made them hide in the cracks on the rocks :/ changing decor only works for the day, and nothing live that i put in there for chasing can survive salt.

do they have internal parasites?

water perams are great (minus phosphates) tank is almost 2 years old

[bertie 83]

If they are tubby cut back on food. Pellets are no good they prob don't eat them so they will mess up your water. What size aquarium are they in? Do you have any tank photos to show us?

[Flutter]

How large is the tank? What kind of water flow do you have? Can you provide us with a full tank shot?

[rewindthelies]

If they are tubby cut back on food. Pellets are no good they prob don't eat them so they will mess up your water. What size aquarium are they in? Do you have any tank photos to show us?

29 gal.
tank shot, belly shot, cuteness shot, and lateral shot of my biggest puff
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/19/img0734jd.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/822/img0737si.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/7/img0738ab.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/813/img0739n.jpg/
hope these help, btw their bellies are always changing color

[bertie 83]

5 in a 29g? They need that each

[sevenyearnight]

They do look stressed in the photos from what I can tell by the coloration, and from your description as well. Change will cause stress, but as bertie 83 says, they each need 30 gallons min, so they probably aren't very comfortable all scooched in one tank. There may be other reasons of course, but without knowing their history and whatnot, that's the best I can suggest.
I know you said you rescued them, and that's good; what are you plans for them in the future? Will you rehome some and keep some? Just keep in mind that it's a minimum suggested 30 gallons per puffer.

[puffer_addict]

sidenote: what does make them glass surf?

[sevenyearnight]

sidenote: what does make them glass surf?

Stress, boredom, begging for food.

[Flutter]

I think that would be stress and the fact that your tank is rather bare. Puffers need very complex tanks to keep them busy and yours doesn't have all that much to amuse them. Try adding new decorations or LR.

[puffer_addict]

sidenote: what does make them glass surf?

Stress, boredom, begging for food.

one glass surfs all the time. My other two just beg for more food. bunch of fatties

[rewindthelies]

I think that would be stress and the fact that your tank is rather bare. Puffers need very complex tanks to keep them busy and yours doesn't have all that much to amuse them. Try adding new decorations or LR.

i just added plant and some more rock every time i rearrange it they get bored. im honestly frustrated because they are stunted and i dont want them to go to a bad home if i get rid of some and fish stores dont feed properly. but i dont think they are going to "grow out" that tank. im also trying to decorate my tank to the best of my abilities.

[Puffer King]

Rehome as many as you can , then upgrade your tank to suit the one(s) you keep . Definitely need to give them a more complex environment , need to break the line of sight from every angle of the tank ideally . Cut down on feeding and they will become more active . Little and often equals an active puffer .

[rewindthelies]

its just to sad. all the lfs puffers look thin and unsightly. i feel really bad. i know i need to down stock the puffs but i just dont feel safe.. ill give to the store that has them in saltwater, but im not happy about the skeleton i found in the gsp tank they had.. ill keep the one that is the biggest.

[scpion]

Noticed U keep mentioning they are stunted, what makes U think so?

[rewindthelies]

Noticed U keep mentioning they are stunted, what makes U think so?

the lady i got them from two years ago had them in a 45with a scat and some other large brackish fish and they have not grown a bit. meanwhile i bought the 5th one from walmart(i saved it from mouth fungus) a year ago and hes almost twice the size of the other four.