What is my dwarf puffer doing??????????

[Puffer710]

I currently have a very ill spotted puffer due to a bad batch of puffers that came in at the pet store where I bought it. It is currently lying at the bottom of the tank, not looking too well. I noticed just a couple minutes ago that my dwarf puffer was staring at the GSP and then proceeded to rub up against it. What is the dwarf puffer doing? This sounds silly, but it almost looks like it is showing concern and trying to help because it knows that it is ill. Dwarf puffers are usually little a-holes though which why this is even more odd. Haha. I attached a picture. Any ideas???

[bigfatfish]

I realise the GSP is sick, but its a cute photo! Not sure that GSP & DPs make good tank mates though, as the water requirements are so different - one being BW & the other FW.
No idea why the DP is exhibiting that behaviour - sorry!

[Hilly]

From that photo, im not even sure if that is a GSP. looks more like a freshwater species but maybe its the camera angle.

[Puffer710]

Trust me. It's is a GSP. I would hope I know what fish I have in my tank. HAHA! He is just really ill. He came in with a batch of puffers that had a virus. Obviously I didn't find this out from the store until the next day. Yeah I just thought this was odd. I honestly did not think that the Dwarf Puffer would do good in the tank, but loves it. The brackish tank is treating him well. Some fish just acclimate better than others. He is the boss of the tank and everyone knows it. HAHA! I just have no clue what he is doing to the GSP. It's been about an hour or so now and he continues to just stare the GSP down and rub up against him. Then he will lay down next to him for a bit. One of those odd occurrences I suppose. Thanks guys.

[pufferpuggirl]

I know this isn't what you want to hear .... but as the salinity rises in that tank, it's going to be worse for that little DP. He isn't a brackish water fish, and you may think he's "acclimating" but if a fish isn't meant to be in brackish water, then it can only be bad for him. Sorry, but I just had to say it.

[Puffer710]

Ok...Any idea about the picture though? Also I seem to get different opinions from everyone I talk to about this issue, but do you think that Figure 8's and GSP's can coexist in the same tank? I understand the aggression rises with age, but is it potential for those two puffers to live their lives together in the same tank with one murdering the other???? Just curious because I had them together before and they seemed fine. They matured together and never had a problem, but maybe I just got lucky because a lot of people have recently been telling me to avoid mixing the two. What's your take????

[Hilly]

So this tank is brackish and you have a freshwater puffer in it? while the salinity is low its not going to have too much affect but this is a freshwater fish and for long term happiness in captivity that is what its going to need.

[Nick]

The GSP looks sad. Are you using marine mix or aquarium salt in the tank?

My only guess on what the DP is doing is that it's a male, and has mistaken the TINY gsp for a particularly fat gravid female. Rubbing against females is done to encourage ovulation.

So... your DP is probably molesting your sick GSP.

I have no idea if the GSP finds this uncomfortable, comforting, or just doesn't care. Probably one of the latter two, since he's not just eating the DP.

I ask if it's aquarium salt or marine mix because I've noticed GSPs tend to get that coloration when sick from off water conditions, and if ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are in order(0/0/<20), carbonates provided by marine mix might be something missing.

[pufferpuggirl]

Ok...Any idea about the picture though? Also I seem to get different opinions from everyone I talk to about this issue, but do you think that Figure 8's and GSP's can coexist in the same tank? I understand the aggression rises with age, but is it potential for those two puffers to live their lives together in the same tank with one murdering the other???? Just curious because I had them together before and they seemed fine. They matured together and never had a problem, but maybe I just got lucky because a lot of people have recently been telling me to avoid mixing the two. What's your take????

In answer to your question .... yes, they might get along for the time being. How long have they been together? But once again, salinity rears it's ugly head. Thing is, Figure-8 puffers need low-end brackish conditions, while GSP's need higher brackish conditions. And the other thing is that the GSP is going to grow much bigger than the little F8 and with size sometimes comes aggression. Anyone might have success short term, but as I've found out myself, it's the long term that matters.

[Puffer710]

Sooo I have a perv for a DP huh? HAHA! As far as salt, I use that Instant Ocean Sea Salt. These Figure 8s and GSPs have been together for about 7 months now I believe. Well, I probably will have another tank soon so I will be able to split them up before they mature and grow more.

[Pufferpunk]

That's a very sweet pic but we shouldn't anthropomorphise our fish to much. If the sick GSP doesn't kill the DP with it's disease, it will most likely kill it out of aggression or the salt will get to the DP 1st. either way, they need to be separated, ASAP!

[trekenk]

. I did take the advice and divided the fish up. The Green spotted now have a separate. .

Tank was already cycled. It was up and running already. .

I thought that you did separate the GSP's to another cycled tank already?????