The Puffer Forum

My figure 8 puffer fish (brackish) keeps curling in his tail, to cover his left fin. Around his mouth, it turns black, but when you move too quickly or something, he darts back up and returns to white. What does this mean?
thanks

Puffers curl their tails a lot - when they're napping, to steer, etc. Colors change frequently for many reasons. Dark bellies can indicate distress, but it's often just an indication of a moody fish. They may also change during feeding time, at night, or for no apparent reason.

Welcome to the forum!

LilGreenPuffer wrote:Puffers curl their tails a lot - when they're napping, to steer, etc. Colors change frequently for many reasons. Dark bellies can indicate distress, but it's often just an indication of a moody fish. They may also change during feeding time, at night, or for no apparent reason.

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you! he seems to be ok.
for a while tho he was looking really sick, so i added some aquarium salt.
but now he's swimming around happily.
Thank you!

If you keep your puffer in brackish water (i.e. with marine salt), then aquarium salt isn't going to have an effect. It's for FW fish.