The Puffer Forum

My dwarf puffer fish has a strange growth on its belly. I have a 10 gallon tank with no nitrites, nitrates, or ammonia (I test weekly). My puffer has always refused to eat frozen bloodworms, so I feed it (female, I think) 4-5 snails and a couple brine shrimp daily. The only other fish in the tank is an otocinclus who appears to be fine. I have 3 small plants. The aquarium has been set up for a month and I think it is cycled, since there is no ammonia or nitrites. Am I overfeeding her, is she pregnant (I'm not sure how), a parasite maybe?

I see no growth, only a fat puffer. Their bellies get lopsided when fed a lot, which could be what you are seeing.

You say "growth," but the caption says that the belly is bloated. Is it just a bloated belly? DPs should have nice round tummies, especially after you feed them. This is a fat, healthy DP:
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That does sound like a lot of food, though. What size are the snails? You say that you think the tank is cycled; did you use cycling products or go through a certain process?

She's very cute!

I used "stress zyme" to cycle the tank the first week I had it. It's not so much that her belly is bloated, but more that it has a "lump". It's not really big, but i thought I'd just make sure it wasn't a bigger problem. Is that too much food? How much would be good for one fish?

Looks okay to me, but its not a real clear/closeup photo.

Generally we suggest feeding the fish until their belly is nicely rounded.. which it looks like you are doing.

Yea, looks like a skinny guy that finally got his fill to eat - When they are skinny, and then eat a bunch, they get offshape bellies, even easier than most other puffers, because even small foods can "lay lumpy" in them easily.