New Cochinchinensis

[Fish Food]

Hi everyone!

I took a long road trip yesterday and finally picked up what I believe is a Cochinchinensis. He has a prominent dark ocellated spot and his body (minus tail) is about 2 inches. I'll get some pictures when my camera recharges. He was a paler yellow/brown in the store, but they also had a light colored pale sand substrate. Today he's a lot darker colored (but I also have Eco Complete, so I'm not sure if he's stressed or just matching my substrate).

He ate part of a frozen shrimp this morning too, but I noticed that his mouth looked a little bit chipped/wounded though, so I added some Melafix.

One question I had was that he's acting a lot like a Turgidus in that he's been hiding under my plants and heater most of the time and lying just over the substrate. Water parameters all look normal. Is it possible I have a Turgidus that just looks a lot like a Cochinchinensis? Has anyone else have a puffer like this? Or, is this just a phase he's going through?

Thanks!

[Fish Food]

Hm... observing him now, he may have actually been asleep. Do puffers sleep during the day? (He did have a late/stressful night).

[StormySkiez]

My gsp's take naps during the day everyday. I don't know anything about a Cochinchinensis. I would guess your new little puffer may be tired and getting used to it's new home. Him eating is a good sign. His mouth is chipped? Is it a bite? I hope that heals up fast.

[Nick]

I'd suggest moving your heater down against the gravel hard enough that he can't rest under/against it, he'll likely burn himself eventually, while most puffers don't seem to sit on heaters.

[Fish Food]

I'd suggest moving your heater down against the gravel hard enough that he can't rest under/against it, he'll likely burn himself eventually, while most puffers don't seem to sit on heaters.

Hm, I never thought of that. On the heater instructions it says that the heater shouldn't touch the substrate at all. Does that matter?

Tim

[Nick]

I've never had any problems as long as the heater isn't buried in it.

[jimi]

i had a goby that loved to sit on the heater and my eel will sometimes wrap around it and rest while wakeing up fish do some weird things