do dwarf puffers puff?

[supenguin]

I know this is an odd question, but do dwarf puffers puff? Can they puff? Both times I've purchased dwarf puffers recently, they were netted out of their tank and put in a little plastic container and then into a bag. From what I read about puffers, this is a big no-no because they will puff up and suck in air and die. The DP's did not visibly puff up at all, and all 4 of them are very happy and healthy. Well, there was a fifth one one that died, but he was a rather sickly color and wasn't moving or eating much.

So anyone know if DP's can puff or better yet, if they do, can someone submit a picture of a puffed one?

-Kenny

[Bred]

I have seen several DPs puff in my day, usually due to aggression from other tank mates. Ehmmm I have a picture somewhere, will try to find it....

Ah, here we are:
She had just been bitten by the other female you see in the pic.

[Woland]

From what I read about puffers, this is a big no-no because they will puff up and suck in air and die.

-Kenny

Important distinction:
They may suck in air and die.
Using a container is advisable and safer.

[Bred]

Forgive me, for this is evil...but there is something really, really funny about a dp being puffed.

LOL, I see what you mean, they're kind of just like wee little fish-skinned marbles.

[RTR]

With teeny-tiny spines all en garde...

[creampuff]

They puff?! Oh my goodness. I've never seen them puff before. I was always under the assumption that they were too small to puff.

[supenguin]

That looks too funny! It looks like that little DP swallowed a marble! Reason I asked, at the pet store, there was this one DP that was bigger and bulged out compared to the rest. My wife thought something was wrong with him - either he was sick or puffed out. I thought he was just fat. We both thought he was too agressive to have except in a tank by himself.

-Kenny

[SirMinion]

The way I understand it, all puffers puff but some species do it more readily than others.

Our Fahaka, Martha sometimes does it just to draw our attention when she wants something like food or her light on in the morning if we've been tardy getting out of bed.

[supenguin]

Martha really is a beautiful puffer. I wonder if my DP's will get in the habit of puffing to get attention? I hope so Anyone have pics of a puffed fully grown mbu giant puffer? Now that would be a sight to see!

-Kenny

[Bred]

I love the teeth in that shot, SirMinion. Flashing the pearly whites: "Look, Ma! No ribs!!"

[Feathers&Fins]

LOL! Looks like Martha has one heck of a double, uhhh, make that triple, chin!

[bsplenden]

This is a puffer which puffed in air and died.


(I have replaced the photo. Will be taken down if more people are against it.)

[Sari]

OMG, that's horrible!!!


*cries*

I wish I'd never seen that.

[mandycat]

I, as well, would have gotten through my life just fine without seeing that.
Maybe it should be removed before some jacka$$ gets any ideas.

[bsplenden]

I was just sharing. Didn't want anyone to have any idea or what.

It is a very sad thing to see my own puffer die like that and I hope this will teach people not to net their puffers out of the water. Use a container to remove it from the tank with the water as well.