Puffer is Really Pale

[xmikebrock]

i just turned the light on in my tank

both of my Green Spotted Puffers were pale, their bellies were might and the top of both of them wall all yellow and there spots werent a true black

is everything ok?!

[julianchan]

Totally fine. After a little while you will notice their colors will come back to normal. They were probably taking a "nap". No need to panic, nor worry. Sometimes you will also notice, the first 5 minutes after turning on your light, if it is bright, and sometimes even if it is not, they will act a little blind.....just like getting blinded by car headlights.

This is only a problem if they do not come back to normal coloration after maybe half an hour or so ...but my GSP got really really pale for about 2 weeks when I replaced the lighting in my tank to about 5 times what it used to be....but was healthy as ever.

Being dark on the other hand can be a bad thing, but they can also turn dark when "napping" too, but if their coloration does not return after swimming around the tank, you might have an issue, but I doubt that this is the case right now....just so you dont panic when it does happen though...I know I have multiple times....

[chubber]

Are they resting?

Mine goes very pale when he's resting - usually first thing in the morning when the lights are off and late at night. However when he starts getting active again you can literally see the colour returning.

I think they can all be a little different though. I'm certain that when i first got him he used to sulk and sit in a corner hiding behind the moss balls. He's a lot more settled now, but can still be a bit sulky after water changes. How long have you had them?

If their colour returns quickly after lights on I wouldn't worry too much.

However you should also consider:

Are they feeding OK?
Your water parameters, tank size, other tank mates?

[Bogwoodbruce]

Like it has been said, with you just turning the light on they were probably stil resting ive found that with my dwaine and other species and late at night as lights start to go off. Puffers do tend to lighten and darken rather often with mood changes aswell..... would still be worth doing a watertest though just to check out your parametres.

[Myaj]

Yep, that's perfectly normal. Some of them also seem to curl up in a ball when sleeping and if you startle them awake have trouble swimming at first, its like they are "stuck" in the curled up position. Yes, they are odd fish.

[xmikebrock]

yeah lol

i checked them out about 5 min after posting this and the were fine

thankyaverrmuch

[melbell86]

i see this thread is like 2 years old but i just searched the site for this very thing. I am worried because my GSP is very pale almost white, but is acting normal. I just got a T5HO light for my tank yesterday so im wondering if this is similar to what one of the posters said above me. All parameters are normal, and my tank has been cycled for over 4 months now. I have seen him pale before, but usually its when he first wakes up. he has been pale all day and im really worried about him!

[xmikebrock]

haha its cool

uhh
is it pale or is it just not as green? like is there more white?

[melbell86]

his spots are very pale greyish white, and his green is pale. I know being darker is bad (poor water quality) but i have usually read going pale occasionally is normal. He has been like this all day so im hoping its just him not used to the lighting.

[Pufferpunk]

My guess would be the lighting, if all the parameters are good. Try shading the top of the water with a floating plastic plant.

[xmikebrock]

PP, so are the T5's too much for the GSP? and they like the shade?

or is it just him adjusting to the new lights??

[puffermichigan]

I came home one day to find one of my lil GSPs curled up, precariously perched on a sloping piece of wood, and all of his spots were nearly gone. It scared me so much, I thought he was dead. He perked up, swam over to me and looked perturbed that I woke him up! I notice that one of my GSPs "loses" his spots while sleeping more than the other. But every time I see them sleeping they look much paler than when they are awake. One other thought--when I added a more powerful light to my tank I also noticed that Jellybean (the one who gets paler when he sleeps) stayed pale for a considerably longer time. I read some things on the forum and thought maybe he was being "moody." I did a lot of precautionary water tests to make sure things were fine. After a few days he seemed darker again, it may have been stress from the new light?

[xmikebrock]

thats what im thinking..

i mean you changed the lights and then he started looking paler at the same time so it sounds like it could be that


is he still lookin pale?

[Dadof4]

More than likely the light intensity. Fish can be easily seen from above in a brighter light so they will lighten up with a higher light output.

[Mandalynn87]

Yep, that's perfectly normal. Some of them also seem to curl up in a ball when sleeping and if you startle them awake have trouble swimming at first, its like they are "stuck" in the curled up position. Yes, they are odd fish.

Do other puffers do this too? Like F8 puffers. Ive been quite worried about my guy. Sometimes he looks so pale. Usually when he's been sitting in his little cave or when I first turn on the light. I know i helicopter mom him. I thought it was maybe because he was in freshwater. ( only had him 2 months and bought him in freshwaer) but we have been increasing salinity and are at 1.03 and it still happens. Gonna go up to 1.04, 1.05 and stay at lower brackish for a while and then we might move up if all my plants die.
Oh that reminds me. My plants look like swish cheese. Is that normal that he is taking big chunks out of my plants.?