The Puffer Forum

It finally happened.

So I was moving my fahaka (Lurch) into my 100G tank today (after emtying out all the other fish, of course!). The plan for most fish is the net. This, of course, does not work for special fish such as puffers and Clown Loaches. So I decided to scoop Lurch up with a pitcher, and move him into a bucket, then drip acclimate. I managed to scoop him into the pitcher and get my hand on top of it so he doesn't jump out. Big mistake. When I put him in the bucket, he lunged out and grabbed my hand. He managed to bite me twice in a matter of less than a fraction of a second! Neither bite drew blood, but I'm sure that if he got my finger or knuckle, they would have. He's now in my 100G.

Lesson: Be careful when transferring puffers

eeesh. Do you have pictures of your puffer?

They can be very sneaky. You have to keep an eye out at all times. I actually used the bottom of my purse to keep the little bugger in the picture. I didn't have anything close at the time to grab and didn't think about it before hand. Needless to say the bottom of my purse was soaked in seconds. Didn't matter, I got her moved in safe and sound. And I had no bite marks.

Such a horrible feeling being bitten by fish...
I have some scars on my hands from catching pike over the years.

Whenever I put my arm in my cichlid tank they start nibbling & plucking the hairs, occasionally one will latch onto a finger & shake his head.

They've no teeth to speak of but it never fails to freak me out

Lucky your puffer didn't draw blood, I reckon my fahaka would do some damage if he got me.

I don't like using nets for my puffers, but my Ceylons were such so flaky that I HAD to use a net to catch them. So, what I would do is catch them in the net (puffer is submerged the entire time, of course), then bring a large yogurt container (the big ones, not the personal-size ones) and usher them into the container, and just keep the net over top of the container as a form of lid (so they can't jump out). Works fantastically, actually.

You could have been eaten alive!

I do the same as Paul for my GSPs

Haha, my new figure 8 nipped me for the first time last night, it was cute. I could barely feel it.

EliWhitney314 wrote:eeesh. Do you have pictures of your puffer?

Not right now. The tank is empty of all decorations right now. He eats plants

Poor fella's gotta be bored in there...

My Turgdis got me on Saturday when i was adding decor to his tank. I go to close to his cave and ZOOM CHOMP! He got a piece of skin on one of my knuckles and peeled a little back. I had no idea he would do that nor that he was big enough...I had to gently reprimand him with a net (herded him in a corner) while I finished and remind him that I hold control over the night crawlers and shrimp!

Dadof4 wrote:My Turgdis got me on Saturday when i was adding decor to his tank. I go to close to his cave and ZOOM CHOMP! He got a piece of skin on one of my knuckles and peeled a little back. I had no idea he would do that nor that he was big enough...I had to gently reprimand him with a net (herded him in a corner) while I finished and remind him that I hold control over the night crawlers and shrimp!

lol

Pufferpunk wrote:Poor fella's gotta be bored in there...

It's his fault in a way. I mean, he annihilates anything that is put into the tank. Fish? Dead. Plants? Destroyed. I can't even put a thermometer in there!

I'm working on an idea for something for him. Maybe some fake logs or rocks.

Yeah, this happens. I have a scar in between first and second fingers on my left hand from my very first T. lineatus. OUCH!