Dwarf Puffer behavior - yawning after feeding

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TOPuffers
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 63
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:12 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: 3 pea puffers/dwarf puffers in a 20 G freshwater planted tank
29 G community tank with plecos, bamboo shrimp, khuli loaches, swordtails, neon tetras and apple snails
Location (country): Toronto, Canada
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Dwarf Puffer behavior - yawning after feeding

Post by TOPuffers »

Hello Puffer Forum :)

Our three dwarf puffers have a diet of live snails (pond snails and now MTS too) as well as frozen bloodworms.

We noticed that about an hour after eating bloodworms, the puffers will 'yawn' - open their mouths and make little 'O's for a second or two.

Has anyone seen this behavior with their DPs? Does it indicate a problem? Are they telling us they are bored? ;)

Thank you for any light you can shed on this weird behavior.
If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water - Loren Eiseley
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Iliveinazoo
Fahaka Puffer
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My Puffers: 1xFigure 8
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Location: Southampton

Re: Dwarf Puffer behavior - yawning after feeding

Post by Iliveinazoo »

I reckon that they have probably gorged themselves and are therefore suffering from not being able to take in as much oxygen so are actually gasping rather than yawning.

Could also be that they are getting the bloodworm stuck in their teeth and are in serious need of a toothpick!
User avatar
TOPuffers
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 63
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:12 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: 3 pea puffers/dwarf puffers in a 20 G freshwater planted tank
29 G community tank with plecos, bamboo shrimp, khuli loaches, swordtails, neon tetras and apple snails
Location (country): Toronto, Canada
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Re: Dwarf Puffer behavior - yawning after feeding

Post by TOPuffers »

Thank you iliveinazoo - for your answer AND the mental image of our puffers with toothpicks in their little mouths :)

I will try feeding them less and see if the yawning stop. Right now they are getting 4-5 bloodworms each, twice a day.
If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water - Loren Eiseley
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Boku88
Puffer Fry
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Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2015 11:56 am
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My Puffers: Figure 8 Puffers, Green Spotted Puffers and Dwarf Puffers
Location (country): Malaysia

Re: Dwarf Puffer behavior - yawning after feeding

Post by Boku88 »

Mine occasionally does that after feeding, my F8s do that too. It could be maybe stretching? Or maybe they are way to full?? Or just plain yawning because normally when my F8s do that, I'll catch them retreating into theor caves to sleep.
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