The Puffer Forum

Amonia, nitrite, and nitrate are in order. Salt level is 1.026. PH is 8.0

My dogface puffer has been flashing his side against the sand and live rock. The sand will go everywhere when he does it against the sand. Then he will become reclusive and curl his tail. But whenever it is feeding time he comes alive and eats like a pig. Then will shortly go back to becoming reclusive.

I did catch him going to the bathroom yesterday. It looked quite disgusting, like diarea. Brown liquidy goo and then some hard plumps come out.

Please answer the other Qs above in red.

Sorry abut that. He is in a 55 gallon tank along with a friendly gsp. They get along great. My dogface is about 5 inches and my gsp is about 2 inches. I understand I will need a large tank soon and I am working on it. I do weekly 15% water changes. I use r/o water with instant ocean salt.

I use 3 koralia 1 power heads. 2 heaters set at 79. canister filter with media taken out except polishing pad, filter pad, and carbon, also added live rock. I have 60lbs of live rock and 60lbs of live sand. 216watt t5 lighting. I have done no changes to the tank recently.

It has been established for about 3 months. It was cycled with live rock live sand and 2 damsels.

I feed once a day. He eats mussels, clams, oysters, frozen shrimp, ghost shrimp and the occasional crayfish (as caught on video).

quick pics for reference of the little guy.

I don't see any parasites on him but with the paler puffers it's hard to tell. It wouldn't hurt to treat for IPs though. Treat them both.