Normal Behavior of a GSP

[pufferdaddy]

I was talking with my LFS about a couple GSP's they had. They told me that they were using aquarium salt for their GSP. I took a look at the GSP they had and it didnt look too well, but wasn't sure. The bottom of it was really dark isntead of the normal white color that I often see. Is this a sign of sickness?

Also is laying around on the bottom normal behavior or a sign of sickness?


Can someone give me some normal behavior traits of the GSP that may aid in identifying whether a fish is sick or healthy.

THanks.

[Tihsho]

Yeah, the GSPs are sick. When looking to purchase a puffer look for one that do not include the following:

~Sunken belly
~Dark bellies (well some puffers naturally have this trait but ones that usually have a white belly to naturally be like is rare)
~Sitting at the bottom/little to no action/not alert (if the puffer is a lurker species [which the GSP is not] little action or sitting stationary is ok)

Tell your LFS they need to use MARINE SALT for there GSP's because there is a big difference between marine salt and aquarium salt, they consist of different things and have totally different purposes.

GSP's that I have ever had were active and always intrested to see what you or anyone else was doing. They would be pacing the glass watching you or anything moving near or on the glass.

[crazyforpuffs]

In my experience, healthy GSP's should be moving around in the tank - and should take notice when you look into the aquarium.

Sunken bellies are bad, flat bellies are OK, fat bellies are best, of course. Colour of bellies though, can vary. I have 3 GSPs that have the pure white belly, and one larger one that never has a pure white belly, his is mostly black, or splotchy at best.

They are all healthy specimens though.

When purchasing puffers, I look at activity, eyes, belly, fins and interaction with me. With more experience, you will just know - when a puffer is healthy and when they are not. It becomes second nature.

[Joshcwj]

When I bought mine, the LFS said these GSPs lives in FW and they told me I just need aquarium salt. This is not true. A week later when I went back to the store, most of their GSPs either fall sick or looks dark and weak.

I'm doing a slow migration to light brackish and they look happier and active. I used to add aquarium salt but now I'm using marine salt which I think the fish like it more. Marine salt is the way to go.

I have total of six GSPs. Two with white bellies but others are white in the middle and dark at the edges.

[calger459]

Do your puffers ever change color when they eat? Mine will have white belly normally (as long as I keep the Ph high-my tap water is almost acidic so this is a challenge) but it darkens to splotchy gray, especially where her spots meet her belly, when I feed her. Is this normal? My previous puffer only changed color when resting on the bottom or when she was feeling sick.

Also, and I had this with my previous puffer too, every now and then I'll find her curled in a dark ball on the bottom of the tank. Seems perfectly healthy otherwise, and she doesn't stay curled for more than a few minutes. What could be causing this?

[Pufferpunk]

Yup, mine got dark when eating.

[RTR]

Resting on the bottom with the tail fin curled against the body and with faded or blotchy color is full normal for sleeping, or for even for napping. Both are protective devices, better camouflage.

Belly darkening during feeding is not uncommon either, but I have never figured out why on this one...

[YBeNormal]

Belly darkening during feeding is not uncommon either, but I have never figured out why on this one...

I chalk that up to stress as they seem to get very excited at feeding time.

[Vixen]

Our largest GSP was dark bellied almost all the time until we changed our substrate from black gravel to crushed shell. Now our big puff has a bright white belly most of the time.

I've noticed the color changes often have to do with their emotional state. Even in the black gravel, if the big puff was hunting ghost shrimp or we changed the tank around so he had new things to explore, his belly and his whole color would brighten up. The one day he got a fin caught by the crayfish we gave him, he was dark and sulky for a week.