The Puffer Forum

So far my male red eyed red tail puffer has changed his colour from a yellowy (faded bands) then when i introduced new fish he went a darker brown then normal colour again?!! Is this a mood thing? He seems just curious about the new fish, they were put in there to see the kind of temperement they have. I have male and a female C Irribesco with a 'trail' bigger molly and platy. They are fast enough to avoid them. Any help with colour changing behaviour?

The different Redeye puffers will change colour depending on their moods. They change when they are trying to attract a female, when they come up to another male, and I'm sure there are other reasons they change their colours. You should see the male salivator, he REALLY changes his colours and patterns a great deal.

By the way, in my experience irrubescos have a very placid temperament, although they will chase another male away sometimes, I think it's my older males that do the chasing .... but I've yet to see any of them actually biting any of the other fishes, other their own kind, other puffers, or other types of fish. I'd guess that your dwarf puffers would be more apt to take a nip at another fish before your irrubesco's would.

Wow thats cool, i think he saw his reflection and thought it was another male when he changed colour bless him lol yea my dwarfs are alot more aggressive than these guys are! I guess size doesnt matter haha iv added some Danios now aswel which seem to have no problems so far with the puffers