Interesting Puffer Behavior.....

[PufferPuck30]

Hello all. It's been awhile since my last visit, but I felt compelled to post again.

I'm currently uploading images to my computer of Pavel and Henrik, my two little GSP buddies. I got them about 1.5 weeks ago. They're little guys. Pavel is about 1", while Henrik is about 1.25", (tails not included). Pavel is the "shy" one, Henrik, the more outgoing of the two.

Both are currently housed in a 37gal brackish tank, with a SG of 1.012. Ammonia = 0ppm, Nitrite = 0ppm, Nitrate = ~7ppm, pH = 8.2, Temperature = 80°F. Both are hand fed a variety of foods: Live black worms, frozen blood worms, frozen mysis, fresh mussel, fresh clam, fresh shrimp, frozen "mixed" seafood, (brine/squid/plankton/shrimp/clam/mussel), and live snails, (mostly hand crushed by myself, until they're big enough to handle the job themselves). I also threw in a live ghost shrimp yesterday. There was alot of "stalking", but no comfirmed kill.

As you can probably tell by their names, I assumed both were male when I bought them. Now, I'm not so sure.

From about the 3rd day since I got them home, I've observed some very "odd" behavior. It started out with Pavs following Hank around like a puppy. It escalated to Pavs "sniffing" at Hank's underside, much like a dog "sniffs" another dog's rear end. (Lovely visual, I know....). From there to Pavel "rubbing" against Henrik's underside with his "nose".

Today, they're "cuddling", "snuggling". "Spooning", even. It's crazy, but it's true.

Pavel will follow Henrik to the front, right corner of the tank. There, he'll "nuzzle" his nose on Henrik's chin until Henrik lays down on the substrate. Once down, Henrik rolls over until he's partially on his side, and Pavel proceeds to "rub" him, all over, with his whole body. He'll then lay next to Henrik and "cuddle", always on the underside, sometimes his nose to Henrik's chin, sometimes he'll turn around and nuzzle his nose to Henrik's tail.

It appears to be mating behavior. That's the only explanation I can come up with. It's rather adorable, actually.

I'll try to post some pictures, hopefully some video, as well.

Anyone else ever observed this kind of behavior, in GSP's or ANY type of puffer?

[Nick]

GSP at under 2 inches are not even close to sexual maturity, they're practically infants. They are MUCH more friendly to each other as tiny ones than mature puffers. So thats one possibility. If it's mating behavior, you have dwarf puffers. They're about the right size for fully mature dwarf puffers, got any pics? Dwarf puffers won't last their full lifespan at that SG, so determining if it's GSP displaying childish affectionate behavior or DP breeding behavior is critical.

[PufferPuck30]

Hello Nick.

They're not Dwarf Puffers, though I've three of those in a 20gal freshwater aquarium, as well.



The Felons, (as I call Pavel and Hank), are most definately GSP's.

[PufferPuck30]

I'm unable to upload video, as all my files are in .avi format.

Anyone have any idea how to convert to a TPF friendly format?

[Nick]

They are probly just juveniles VERY fond of each other, then.

[yunachin]

Yes, this is not uncommon. I have seen it happen here with my 3. They love to follow each other like a little train system and they all sleep in the same place. It's cute.