Newbie with questions

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tennisball
Puffer Fry
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Joined: Sun May 24, 2009 1:19 am
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Newbie with questions

Post by tennisball »

Hi all. I am happy to have found this forum dedicated to puffers. The green puffer in the logo looks like my Kiwi! Or at least, on a good day he looks like that. I am trying to determine what is normal behaviour and eating patterns for this fish.

I bought/moved an already established predator tank about 3 weeks ago. In it are 2 puffers-- a green stars and stripes (Kiwi), a Valentini puffer (Olivander), a picasso trigger, a white tail trigger, a lion fish and a wolf eel. The previous owner did tell me that Kiwi didn't look so good some times, but that I shouldn't worry about him. But I do worry about him. He looks such a ghastly colour sometimes, and the last few days hasn't eaten much. I have been feeding a variety of seafood, but when he has eaten he seems to mostly like the shrimp or octopus. I read he should have somethign hard to wear down his teeth, so tonight I put in the crabs legs. He seemed a bit interested in that, but the triggers kept going after the same food (even though I spread it out), and he eventually gave up. I am hoping he eats more after they go to bed.

I think Kiwi may be intimidated by the other tank inhabitants, but, I'm not sure I'm right (I don't know him well enough) and I have nowhere else to move him even if he is intimidated. My dog, Maverick, is obsessed with Kiwi, I think because he looks like his tennis ball, with wings. :lol: I worry that he is intimidated by the dog watching him so much, but oddly enough Kiwi sometimes come out of hiding spots to sit in front of Maverick, so go figure.

I am going to try and post a picture. If anyone can tell me if he looks normal, and his behaviour is normal, please let me know. Thanks,
What he looks like now:
Image

What he used to look like (and still looks like occassionally):
Image
Image
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LilGreenPuffer
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Re: Newbie with questions

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

He's probably just getting used to his new environment.

Could those be hunting colors? I've never had this species, so someone else will have to chime in.
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marksrush
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Re: Newbie with questions

Post by marksrush »

Welcome to the forum!

Looks like a reticularis, if I'm not mistaken. Color being off is usually due to either stress of some sort, or the fish was sleeping/napping, or as LilGreenPuffer mentioned, it could be its hunting coloration.

I had a picasso in with my GSP for a while, but had to surrender him back to the store where I work because he got too aggressive with my GSP and was keeping her from eating. He didn't actively chase her at other times, but because of his behavior at feeding time, she started hiding in corners or up at the top of the tank by the filter intake. I'd re-home the triggers if I were you.
thekarens
Puffer Fry
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Re: Newbie with questions

Post by thekarens »

You might want to post in the saltwater section as these are all salt fish, but you might aslo want to post what sized tank and water parameters so experienced keepers can have a better idea of what the issues could be.
coldmachineUK
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Re: Newbie with questions

Post by coldmachineUK »

Topic moved to SW.
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