Puffer get scared

[hauliau_puff]

Hey Guys,
I had my puffer over a year now, recently the puffer just get scared easily. They used to be not shy asking for food but now they kind of scared and I have to get away from the tank in order for them to come up and eat the food. Do you guys know in general what may cause this?

[Phaedrus]

What are your water parameters? What sized tank?

Has there maybe been someone or something spooking them when you're not around?

[The Fisherman]

i dont know what caused it, but after having my F8 for a year, he is a lot more skitish....

[YBeNormal]

Higher tank temps maybe?

[hauliau_puff]

I got 3 GSP in 30 gallons tank. They are all about an inch long. I set the temperature of the water 80F.
Nitrite is 0
Ammonia is 0
Nitrate 0
pH is 8.5
SG is 1.005
Nobody around my apartment, so there is no one poking them. But recently I was on vacation for 3 days, so I didn't turn on the light. Would this cause the problem? Usually I turn on the light during day, and off at night.

[Raphael]

30 gallons is much to small for 3 GSPs. For all 3, you would need at least 90 gallons (30 per GSP). I don't think it has anything to do with the lights.

[hauliau_puff]

Yeah, that's what I thought at first (1GSP for 30Gallon). I got one for half year, then my friend decided to get rid two of his puffers and I couldn't resist the cuteness of them so I just took them. They have been fine for over half year. But can it be because of over crowded and they just got scared like that?

Thanks

[Raphael]

The point is that they will eventually get stunted in a tank to small for them. Their size as full adults is 6" they will not reach that size in a tank too small for them.

[hauliau_puff]

The point is that they will eventually get stunted in a tank to small for them. Their size as full adults is 6" they will not reach that size in a tank too small for them.

Thanks for notifying me, I'll setup another tank as soon as possible. But other than this, how do you guys usually calm the puffer down?

[Tihsho]

Puffers that are extremely stressed are usually in high traffic rooms or the lights in the tank are constantly on. Those are the only two reason I have ever heard of a puff being stressed. But to add to the matter my fig8 before I put him with 2 others was very skittish and then I bumped him from his 20 gal to the current 75 gal and now (s)he is fine.

[ChesapeakeSwellfish]

I have caught my cat Squint terrorizing my GSP "Oko" but the effect seems very short-lived. Squint whacks away at the glass, Oko splashes around a bit, then I shoo away the cat and the puff resumes his normal behavior - begging for food.

[Tihsho]

Poor puff... Cats gonna have fun once the GSP realizes water + mouth = water cannon aswell realize that evil fluffy thing + water = peace

[hauliau_puff]

I changed 50% of the water last two days, now the puffer is happy as ever. I wonder when you guys change the water, do you guys take out the puffer to a bucket or something til the cleaning is done, or you guys just left them in the tank?

[lisalisa]

There is no need to take the fish out while siphoning.

[Tihsho]

Taking a fish out of the tank ends up stressing the fish more then leaving it in the tank. The only occasions that a fish was taken out of the tank was when I cleaned my dads pacu tank. Things would splash more water out then the siphon took in, glad we ridded ourselves of them years back.