The Puffer Forum

Hi,
Yesterday i bought myself some SAP's, two to be exact.Since then they have been swimming at the back in the current of my filter back and forward, back and forward. Are they still stressed for being in the new tankor did i buy to few? Because i saw here on the site that they are shool fish. They havend eaten since i got them.

you've had them for a day? typical behavior for SAP's when they've just been introduced to the tank, and two will be fine

2 days now and they are still doing it. I hope they don't starve to death.
How long can they live without food?

If they were eating normally before you got them (ie. their stomachs aren't sunken or emaciated), they can be fine for 1-2 weeks, after which they will start to become emaciated and will start getting sick, I believe. It's okay if they don't eat for the first few days, and it's not uncommon to see this, especially with wild-caught fish.

They don't know what you are, let alone know that they should accept food from you. Your best bet would be to pick up a bunch of pond snails (say 10-20) and put them into the tank. When you're not around, the puffers will eventually hunt around for food and discover these delicious treats. You could also put some smaller Ghost shrimp into the tank, which will eventually be hunted.

What are you trying to feed them?

There tummies are not that flat, so i don't have to worry that much for the moment.
The thing that worries me is that in the tank there are like 10 snails and they are still untouched, i try to feed them red mosquito larves, i have a few ghost shrimp in the tank and i tried to feed them mussel flesh.

The fact that my cichlids are just in there breeding time won't help i guess?

Just give them a week. If things still aren't looking good, we'll have to start investigating deeper.

It has been over a week and there is almost no change in there behavior, except for the fact that they have started eating since a couple of days ago.They keep swimming in the current of my filter at the back of the tank, i have planted a couple of plants at the back to prevent them from seeing there reflection, but no change, except for the fact that they come to the front once an a while to look for food.

Are they bored or is this normal behavior for them to keep swimming in the current?

I don't have SAPs, so I'm not sure how normal this is. However, I believe I remember hearing that they are more of a river fish, and that they quite enjoy currents. Maybe you could try getting a small powerhead and seeing if they'd utilize it? At least if they're swimming into the current, it means they still have lots of energy to move with.

Also, if they're eating, then that's a good sign.

Yep I think Paul nailed it.

Mine SAP does the glass pacing too. I have tried almost everything- more decor, more current (have a 350 penguin and 350 magnum on the 55g he is in- moves a lot of water on the one side of the tank), backgrounds, and live food (snails and ghost shrimp) constantly in the tank. He does eat very well but will pace the glass quite often. Haven't figured out exactly why.

Sometimes puffers pace the glass when you're around. My Abei puffer just sits at the glass and waits for me to come around, which is why I want to get him a bigger tank and some shrimp to hunt.

my SAPs do it all the time,they dance at the glass then swim all other the show.
they are on the move all the time,its just who they are and love to swim loads.
they do swim all around the tank and always checking in the middle for new things.
as long as there feeding well then dont worry,SAPs will alway glass chase at some point

These are highly active and intelligent fish. They enjoy a planted tank to explore and engage in. Unlike most members of it's family, this tetraodontid displays an unusual amount of tolerance towards other fish.
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Sally
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Also see Neale's article

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebInde ... tNeale.htm

Very interesting article.
Also, from the moment i put a background behind the tank they immediately stopped pacing back and forward at the back of the tank, so it had to do with there reflection.
Could it be that they continue to pace against there reflection, because that they are with to few SAP's?

Also i recently discovered that they have ich.
I already did a water change every day since saturday, and put some salt in there with a little bit of melafix, and raised the temperature to 83 degrees F. I hope they get better soon, because i haven't seen a decrease of white spots on there body, rather a increase.