Dwarf puffer help

[fishguy12]

The front is basically a jungle with rocks and loads of plants. The back however is bare because the light doesn't reach there. I could add something (don't know what) to there. There is a cave under the driftwood but I don't know if he s noticed it yet.
The bowl: http://imgur.com/TgHUbG4

I posted this on another forum where we're discussing why he glass surfs a lot and I came up with a few theories:

. I've noticed he mostly glass surfs in the morning (due to light being turned on he's still not used to it ), and in the afternoon when the sun shines into the tank. Could this be a reason as its very bright and could mess with his vision? He also gets hungry in the afternoon and this is a reason why they glass surf. I'm not home until 4 due to school so he may be a bit annoyed/stressed because he's hungry...... Greedy little thing XD
Right now I'm watching him without him seeing me and he's just floating about looking at rocks and stuff (how exciting lol). Could these be the reasons as to why he's a bit crazy most of the time. The water quality is firm because all my shrimp are alive and eating well. I mean they must be fine because they eat from tweezers!

[Pufferpunk]

Looks well-decorated.
I wonder how distorted his vision is thru that curved glass?

[fishguy12]

I'm not sure but he isn't scared of me when. Where he is in the tank is distorted.

I got home today and he was glass surfing again. Just going in circles around the bowl. In the mornings he is very calm and explorative (he's like this in the evenings as well), but in late morning/early afternoon I guess he's like this. Maybe its because he's hungry? Or lonely?

[pollypuff]

I may be misunderstanding something, but a fish bowl is not really an appropriate home for a puffer. How many gallons does it hold? is it heated and filtered?

[fishguy12]

3.3 gallons, over filtered and has a heater that maintains temp at 25C. Perfectly fine for a dp

[pufferjw]

Sounds fine as long as it's over-filtered.

[fishguy12]

Believe me its very over filtered!

This is weird. He wasn't glass surfing before food. He ate some food (not as much as yesterday bit he had a snail earlier), and he started surfing again??! Weird puffer lol!

[TOPuffers]

Maybe glass-surfing is part of his hunting routine?

Our dwarf puffers never stop cruising for snails, even when stuffed full of blood worms. Surfing might be your little guy's way of looking for targets

[fishguy12]

That would make sense. He's like a snail hitman XD. He does seem to do it when hes hungry (so he's hunting on the glass for snails or simply looking around the tank whilst doing it?) And after he's eaten he is full of energy due to finding food so he may just be exasperating of or like you said looking for more food.

[fishguy12]

Hello all.

I'm thinking about changing the look of the tank. Instead of having the lump of driftwood in the middle, I'm thinking about removing it and instead using rocks as a hardscape. I'd pile the along the back of the bowl to create a wall in a way. This will create many nooks and crannies and it will also free up so space for the puffer.

The rocks I want to use looks as though they may alter the water chemistry slightly, not sure if this is okay but they've been in another fish tank for a few months and those fish seem fine.

Edit: also if I hide the heater in the rocks will the heat still be distributed evenly in the tank?

Opinions on this?? Thanks

[eieio]

There's no worry that there's ammonia as the bowls been cycled for almost 4 months, I was just listing possibilities as black spots can sometimes mean ammonia is present.

The filter is a hob that's rated at 180 l/h

you have him in a bowl?
what kind of a bowl, what size?

[fishguy12]

Please read previous posts for bowl specs.

Just rescaped the bowl I'll post pictures when its settled. Please say anything that could be improved. It may look darker than it should be because there's tannins in the water from the previous piece of wood.

[Blackfish]

I know it's not what you're asking but 3.3 gallons is what, 15L? I have one in 50L and was told it was verging on too small. Perhaps there simply isn't enough in there to keep it occupied? Mine glass surfed for 2 or 3 days but now it's always hunting around the plants but the tank is packed out with them.

[TOPuffers]

Please read previous posts for bowl specs.

Just rescaped the bowl I'll post pictures when its settled. Please say anything that could be improved. It may look darker than it should be because there's tannins in the water from the previous piece of wood.

Can't wait to see the new layout ^_^

[fishguy12]

I'm not sure who said that 50l was almost too small for one, but that's a bit wrong. This size is perfectly fine for a dp as the main problem is filtration and maintenance, both of which I have got (over filtration and I do 15% WC basically every day).

I'm uploading a video to YouTube now so when its uploaded I'll edit this post and attach the link. There is on r problem with it now: the rock 'wall' I wanted to make isn't tall enough because i didn't have enough rocks! And the plants behind the wood look s bit messy. I have some val that I could put there instead......