STARS AND STRIPES PUFFER

[tamanderson]

Hey yall me again talking about my stars and stripes. I just have a couple of questions about their general behavior. He loves to stay up by where the protein skimmer water comes back out. He stays there almost all the time. He does swim around and eat but this is where is most of the time. He has a lot of air bubbles on him and is this normal or do I need to change something. Also I now have Archie in a 125 gallon tank by himself with just live rock and a few snails, couple of crabs he has not decided to eat yet. I don't see anything wrong with him, he is eating well and growing I am just making sure I am not doing something wrong. Checked all water parameters yesterday nitrate was 10 but ammonia was 0, nitrite negative, pH 8.0, SG between 123 and 125 (unsure of where the decimel goes). Also I got talked into the high output light for the new tank. It seems kind of bright for him do you all better luck with the "moon bulbs" I know I had this on the my other tank and he seemed to like it is it not as bright. The new light does seem to be too much for him. I may have to see if I can find some new bulbs. The stuff on the rock loves the new light though. I sound like a nut I know but I just have so many questions. YIKES! Thanks in advance for your help.

[puffanatic]

I dont see anything wrong with this behavior..There may be more dissoved oxygen at the top or he may feel comfortable there. My Starry puffer has a favorite spot underneath a cave of sorts that he likes to spend time. When he's hungry though he'll swim all around. The water parameters look ok and the fact that he's growing and shows no sign of disease are great. I once had a stars and stripes that would press his lip up against the glass and show one side of his teeth..We called him Elvis because ever time he did it he looked like he was saying "Thank you very much"

[edmlfc1]

puffanatic I have a Stars & Stripes named Elvis and yes he rubs his face and shows his teeth on the glass.

tamanderson, everything your puffer is doing is natural. Elvis does the same thing. Nothing to worry about.


Meet Elvis:

[tamanderson]

Thanks so much! He is still doing well. I bought an emerald crab at the pet store after watching the video of Elvis eating a crab and it did not even hit the sand. He went nuts!!!! He ate it in three bites. He loved it and was very excited and happy. Quite pleased with himself. He is in the tank alone so he did not have any help or spectators in there with him like your eel. That is hilarious.

One question ---- do you all put sea urchins in the tank for your stars and stripes to eat? The pet store said they love them but I was not sure if this is right? Dont they sting? May be not puffers. He said he would get me some smaller ones for cheap if I wanted them what do you think?

[edmlfc1]

I never tried sea urchins. $12 each where I am. A little expensive for a meal. If you can get them cheap I guess you can try it, if he don't eat it then you will have some cool sea urchins in your tank.

[puffanatic]

Every once and a while I will give the puffer a treat. I will throw half a clam or muscle in the water..He goes nuts trying to get it out and bites the shells which is what I want him to do so that he will grind his teeth down. This is what they do in nature anyway..Its amazing that he can bite a clam shell in half!