The Puffer Forum

Hi guys,

I'm curious to see if anyone else has ever seen this? The GSP I've had for a few months now and I'm wondering if his coloration is normal or something I should be worried about. He has a patch on his forhead, just back from his eyes that is a brighter green that rest of him. If varies how much brighter. Sometimes it looks almost neon green while then rest of his upper half goes from green to a brownish green. Sometimes the two shades blend together but at other times they really stand apart. Anyone have any idea if this is a sign of stress or happiness?

His belly is almost always a bright white. Recently his belly would turn grey or black for a couple hours in the after noon or evening I've attributed that to him not liking his tank light very much. I just leave it on as long or turn it on at all sometimes. Don't have any plants so figure it doesn't make much difference right? It hasn't happened since and his belly has stayed bright white.

I understand puffers convey mood a lot with there color. I'm just curious if anyone has seen anything similar to the bright patch of the forehead and give me any insight about it. I haven't been able to make rhyme or reason out of it.

I can't recall I've seen what you describe, but they do (like you say) change color after their mood. The pattern can differ a lot between indviduals, so the color changing... I suppose

Do you have some pictures or video? I would be awesome to see him!

Sounds like a happy puffer to me. mine has that neon color the majority of the time, but if he's upset or startled, he fades quick.
I wouldn't keep your puff in the dark for long. cut back the lights or just for a short time, but I think they need some time for light.

That's a good point. I'm sure keeping him in the dark all day wouldn't be the best thing for him. I'll take some pics tonight and you guys can let me know what you think.

I did have a GSP about a year ago that had that exact neon patch on his forehead. When I was still kidding myself that I could keep 2 GSP's. He was perfectly happy and healthy, in fact, because of that neon patch, I named him Halo. But I took him back to my LFS and they took him in, and was sold within 2 days. I hope he is still alive and happy.

Mine has the same patch. Watch it brighten with his mood, especially hunting...

Here are the pictures of Sprout I said I would post. I never realised how hard it is take pictures of fish before. What I came up with was pretty poor. I don't know how you guys have done it with your pictures. I know you can't see much but you can vaguely see the neon green patch in some and I took a picture of the whole tank. Let me know what you guys think. It's hard to get idea how big he is from the pics but he is only about 3/4 of an inch to an inch.

It's good to know that someone else has seen the same thing I have. Just want to do everything I can to make this guys life as good as possible. He was a touch thin at first but he's put on some weight since then. I know the 20 gallon tank is a little small. I'm going to put him into a 55g when I move in about a year. If he gets longer than an 1.5 inches before then accelerate that plan somehow. If anyone thinks what he's showing is a sign of stress let me know.

Right now the SG is 1.003 and the temp is about 79. Slowly working the SG up from the freshwater that I bought him in. I've been feeding him mysis shrimp w/ spirulina, shrimp from the grocery store, blood worms, and snails every third day from my snail tank. I've also been soaking his food in Selcon every other day or so. Just wanted to give you a little more info.

Thanks for all you input everyone. I'm new to this and I'm trying to learn as much as I can.

The bright green patch is a good thing

His colors look great, he's a little skinny so work on fattening him up yet, but his colors say he's a very happy puff

I've been trying to get him to put on a little weight but he just doesn't want to. I feed him everyday and he is always ready to eat. Maybe I should feed twice a day every other day or something?

My bigger GSP has that same patch..

brooksst wrote:I've been trying to get him to put on a little weight but he just doesn't want to. I feed him everyday and he is always ready to eat. Maybe I should feed twice a day every other day or something?

Have you treated for IP's? I had one that ate like a pig and didn't look like she had them but didn't put on any weight until I treated her for a second time for IP's.

I haven't yet but I've been trying to. First my LFS sold me Metra+ to treat IP, which doesn't treat IP. Then I went in asked for Gel-Tek only find out later they sold me BX instead of PX, and that doesn't treat for IP. So just yeterday I've ordered some PX online. Once that comes in mail I'm going to treat him.

Both of mine have the same thing. Their neon sploge will fade before their belly starts turning dark if they're upset.

You can see big puffs bright green spot sort of in this vid - lil puff isn't so bright because he got scared when the camera beeped in the tank. Big puff also doesn't have the spot as bright as it sometimes is, but you get the idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED7E7DTRMIA