The Puffer Forum

I have a question... Gobo (approx1" GSP) has two overlapping circles (they look like very light circular compressions in his skin) on the left side of his belly, just below his eye (they're about the size of his eye too). What are they? I have read in the articles that this can be a sign of stress or sickness... but he seems active and happy.. white bellied and eats veraciously. (He even follows my finger, which makes me really happy on the inside ::giggle::) Should I be worried or am I just being paranoid about it? (i've only had him for a week and he's my 1st puff)

Here's a photo... if you look closely you can sort of see the circles....

I have to small gsp's together. They have bit each other a few times leaving a mark/scar like what I see on your gsp. Was yours in a tank with other gsp's? I see the tail has been bit.

Yes, when I got him from wal-mart he was in a little tank w/ 10 or so GSPs, many of whom were larger than him. (from what i now know from reading up on them the conditions he came from were appalling) Fie on wal-mart.

So that explains the tail...Are the circles from the abuse? Will they go away?

Lombarmm wrote:...

So that explains the tail...Are the circles from the abuse? Will they go away?

That is my guess, your puffer has been bitten. The marks should go away with time. It took a month or two for my puffers marks to go away.

Thanks for the quick answer!

On a completely unrelated note... I am in college now in FL... but will be going back to CT in may. Had I known what i was getting into when i got a GSP I might have reconsidered the decision.. but now that i have him and have grown rather attached I am faced with how to transport him. I read the article in the library but it focused on transport by car.. and I will be flying home. Is it a viable option to ship him overnight? If so, what is the best way to go about packaging him? And will i need to use any special live animal mail status? I have never shipped anything alive before.

I know this isn't for another few months, but I'm trying to plan ahead...I'm going home for a week in march for spring break and planning on establishing a tank in CT so it will be ready for him when the time comes. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated..

You're welcome! I happen to be on...hehe.

On the traveling question, fish are shipped overnight through mail order all the time. I believe it is hard on the fish. I don't have any experience with shipping live fish. Hopefully someone who knows will see your post.

you could even see if you could bring him on the plane with you. If they let people bring cats and dogs on the plane they should let fish too. Of course the fish would be in water, a "liquid" so who knows!

I grew up in CT, in Windham County so its nice to see another New Englander, lol

I know for a fact that the airline, Delta, doesn't allow fish.- Only 4oz of liquid allowed- no exceptions. They'll take fish air cargo.. but its very expensive. Plus every time i fly i either have the 2 cats or the macaw with me on the plane... Fish too would be pushing it.

Nice to meet you

lol, well that sucks, I guess you're stuck sending them in the mail then

Look like healing puffer bites. Should be fine.