Puffer afraid of the dark

[Tim]

Anyone else ever have a puffer that seems afraid of the dark? I've been noticing something as of late. Whenever the light goes out in the aquarium the puffer will always go to the lightest part of the tank, if there isn't any he will be in a left front corner of the tank at the top. During lights out he is very skittish and some what jumpy. When the lights go on again he will continue his regular everyday things, which include zooming around the tank, being upset if he bumps into something or because of the coral banded shrimp being what he is, happily chasing after blood worms/brine shrimp or begging for food or sleeping behind some rocks with a peephole so he can still keep an eye on me.

His belly is always very shiny (pearly?) white and he always has a big fat yellow spot on his head.

Anyone any ideas?

As for water parameters.

PH 8.2
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 10
Salinity 1.023

The tank also has a skimmer in it and a Polario 7ml powerhead.

[RVS]

Some puffers are, in fact, afraid from draw when young.... when my GSP were babies they used to do what yours is doing now... so i put a small LED lamp (5w) in blue color (actinic) to bring some light on the water on night ("moon light").

Now they are 3 or 4" and don't need the moon light anymore

[RTR]

+1 to the above suggestion.

Also, having the lights on a timers will help. Regular light/dark cycles are quickly learned and are less threatening than erratic timing.

HTH

[Tim]

Thanks, it takes a load off my mind . I'll drop by a LFS and inform about a small LED moonlight light. I'll try to fit the timer in the outlet for the light, though I have a pretty set schedule for the light, I can see how the timer is better. I really wish that dimmable TL lights + hardware wasn't so expensive, turning the light gives a noticable shock to everything in the aquarium, would be wonderful to have it come on slowly and then go out slowly.

It's something I am considering as an upgrade next year at least along with a bigger aquarium. I don't think a full grown GSP will be too happy in a 30gallon. Though my only issue with that for the moment is finding the blueprint and have someone take a look at the flooring. It's an old house and I keep the aquarium on the second floor. Don't want that aquarium to come down on the living room.

[xrayjeeper83]

Bacon usually will jump/move wildly when the lights first go out or on for that matter