Why is my puffer so depressed?

[trever22]

I have a hairy puffer and he/she is about 4-5 inches long. I have my puffer in a 29 gallon tank, I do regular water changes. I use my reefkeeper on it that I used for saltwater to keep the temp. at a constant 77.5 F. My puffer is always dark in color when depressed. Dosent like to move much and just looks sad. When it is feeding time and once I actually get my puffer exited to eat he/she lights up and you can tell he/she is happy. Within 5 mins after eating though the color turns from a bright(ish) brown to a dark dark color again. Im not really sure what the problem could be. This isnt a new thing either, its been going on for quite a while. I would just like my puffer to be happy again but I dont know what to do.

[purplecandle]

That's pretty common for a lurker puffer. He's not depressed. He is using camouflage.
You probably just think he seems different because as he gets older and reaches maturity he gets more territorial/Moody.
He actually sounds "happy" to me.

[trever22]

That's pretty common for a lurker puffer. He's not depressed. He is using camouflage.
You probably just think he seems different because as he gets older and reaches maturity he gets more territorial/Moody.
He actually sounds "happy" to me.

Thats pretty good news I suppose. Sometimes though he gets sucked up next to my filter and he is just sitting there and it scares me sometimes cause I think he/she passed away. But nope hes still alive everytime he does that. Well as long as hes happy im happy.

[purplecandle]

As long as you are sure your water quality is good, it could be his personality or he is sleeping.

You could try redecorating the tank.

[sgtmyers88]

If he is getting stuck to the filter tube alot then buy one of these it may help.

http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Filter-Sponge ... er+sponges

[defool89]

omg I want those tubes now!!!!!

and yes you gotta a lurker... they just chill and wait for the kill. its what he does best, stays outta sight until its time to kill.... yep sounds good to me. If he was bright all the time he would be someone else food. I really wanted a lurker for a while.... its so primal. Take some pictures if you can for POTM, I don't recall seeing many lurkers in the past.

[trever22]

omg I want those tubes now!!!!!

and yes you gotta a lurker... they just chill and wait for the kill. its what he does best, stays outta sight until its time to kill.... yep sounds good to me. If he was bright all the time he would be someone else food. I really wanted a lurker for a while.... its so primal. Take some pictures if you can for POTM, I don't recall seeing many lurkers in the past.

I went down to take pics like you suggested and he is doing exactly what I said. I wonder if he doing this on purpose?

[defool89]

Is he stuck on the filter or chillin next to it?

[Pufferpunk]

Do you have a cave for him?

[purplecandle]

My fangs does something similar. Sometimes I think he is sleeping. But mostly I think he does it because at the pet shop he was at he would hide behind a pole thing all day. Perhaps it's just a comfortable place for them.

At the pet shop



At home in the tank