scared...what an experience.

[jmanglona]

So tonight I finally had the pleasure/curse of watching one of my GSPs puffing up to an almost perfect ball with spikes and all after an altercation with one of its tank-mates. My puffers are at the 2 1/2 inch mark. After reading articles of feeding them, it states that at their current size you should feed them every other day. I will never do that again! I don't ever want them to have to feel like they have to fight for their food anymore. It started out as a feeding frenzy and my smaller puffer was fighting for food with the larger GSP. The larger one got a hold of its lower lip and would not let go...this was just for a split second. My smaller puffer (kid) puffed up and put out his tiny spikes. I swear he looked like a mini cactus . I have never seen my puffers, or any others in real life puffed up, so it was very disturbing to be. Kid has some minor damage to his lower lip. I put some melafix in the water and he doesnt seem to be greatly affected by his wound. I think he'll make a full recovery...I really hope so. He used to be the bully, even though he's the smallest, but now I think he's starting to know his role.

I just wanted to share...I really doubted the ability for GSPs to actually puff up and show their spikes, but they actually do puff up and they actually do have spikes. I was amazed and disturbed at the same time.

Lesson learned...If you have more than one puffer in a large aquarium provide enough food for each of them to eat and waste, just clean up the the remainder.

[Flutter]

That's one of the reasons why most puffers should be kept as singletons

You can also try putting food in 2 places, that way they both eat separately.

[geronimo69]

I've only seen one of my puffers ever "puff up". It was my Fahaka... Came downstairs one morning and was like ! He was about the size of a softball/small soccer ball. Kinda freaked me out at first, until I realized what he was doing. Not sure why he was puffed....