The Puffer Forum

Hi there,

We have just got our first two SAP's and are really happy, the aquatics centre we got them from seemed really helpful (unlike some we had spoken to and visited), anyway they had been climatising this school of 5 or 6 for 2 months and were happy for us to take 2 of them.

We've got them home and gradually climatised them to our tank (no other fish), the water temperature is between 24 and 26 depending on time of day, the PH is around 7.5 and there is obviously no ammonia or nitirate in the water before adding them.

Of the two, one is alot darker, almost an olive greeny/yellow and has much darker bands of black.. the other is much more golden/yellowish with 'washed' out black bands.

What I wanted to know, is the 'darker' one of the two seems to be a little more 'agitated' than the other, it seems to almost attack the back and side of the tank and darts from side to side very rapidly, whilst the other was initialy pacing the glass but has since become 'slower' and is taking time to really investigate. Also, the darker one was 'sitting' on the sand this morning not moving (still breathing normally and moving his eyes). This only last a little while and once it realised i was there it 'woke' and swam off.

Furthermore, when the lighter\washed out one got 'spooked' by me walking past the tank it's black bands got much darker.

We have feed them today on bloodworm and both have eaten. Although they didn't seem very interested in the 'dried krill'.

Does anyone have advice they can offer on the colour changes and the sitting on the bottom.

PS - Right now they are both 'resting' but hoovering above the bottom and appear quite content.

Thanks

Hyper fish- have 4 myself. They can change their color some based on mood. Mine seem to pale when stressed more (also move slower- these are normally very active fish). Don't worry too much if you just got them. They will need time to acclimate to their new home (mine were pale for a few days when first introduced). As long as they are feeding and not skinny just let them get use to things in the tank. It may help to keep the lights off for a day- dark keeps them calmer. In a few days they will probably be like mine- waiting at the top for the lights to come on and begging to be fed.

I agree with ryverrat

I have a SAP called Bollo that sometimes sits on the gravel with my Mbu Naboo, sometimes he'll swim full pelt with his head on the side of the glass, I'm sure it's because they can see a slight reflection in the glass and cannot understand why they cannot get to it He will also be quite chilled and have a good search round the tank just investigating

So in short everything you've explained my SAP Bollo does to, they're quite scatty little puffers (funny to watch)

Sounds like normal new puffer behavior. Congratulations, and welcome!

Thanks very much everyone! They both seem to have settled down quite alot today. We were just bein anxious new puffer keepers I guess.

Nothin' wrong with that!

Normal to worry, soon you have to resist them begging for food (they are very good beggers- put my cats to shame). Congrats and enjoy your new friends.