The Puffer Forum

Hello, I have been trying to earn the trust of my GSP over the last 2.5 years, and we seem to be getting better at it as time goes by.

One thing I've noticed, it seems as if he can't feel when I touch his belly. He reacts when I touch his back or fins, but when i touch his belly, he doesn't react at all. If poke him or rub him from above, he normally flinches or jumps and speeds up in his swimming, or turns around and looks at me, or something !!! But if I get him from under his belly, he doesn't react at all. I can even lift him up from underneath and still he doesn't react.

Anyone know what's up with this ? Anyone else try to pet their puffers ?

I wonder if that is a predator/prey reaction. Most of the danger for a puffer would come from above not below so touching his under carriage doesn't elicit the fight/flight reflex. Just a thought....

I don't think they have very many feeling nerves in the belly. I can do the same for my puffers (lift them from underneath) but I know they do feel it because they'll actually roll to the side so I can pet their bellies.