The Puffer Forum

I have a GSP, Ceylon and Valentini puffer and some other guys in my tank. All of them are perfectly fine when I turn off the light at night, except my Ceylon! He goes nuts, zooms around the tank and jumps around and hits the walls... he even had a sore lip for a couple days one time because I think he hit it on the glass. Does anyone have any experience with this? What should I do to calm him down for the lights going off? I was thinking maybe a night light. He doesn't freak out for long, but it is just that initial turning off the light that does it...

My otos go nuts when I turn the lights on/off. I put a gooseneck desk lamp in front, turn it on, point it towards the tank, leave it for a bit, turn it away, and then turn it off. Then I turn the tank lights off. The decrease in light from the lamp turning away prepares them for the tank lights going off. And a nightlight sounds like a great idea.

Before I got my 2nd Ceylon, my single was really nervous and very easily spooked. He would jump and thrash in the water, whether the light was on or off. But I have to say, since I've gotten them together in their own tank, just the two of them, they are much calmer and don't spook much at all, if ever.
Mine didn't seem spooked by the light so much as by me, so not sure what to tell you. Sorry.

I don't a lot about ceylons specifically but I would think most wild fish would startle at the lights suddenly going off when they are used to a gradual sun set. I would either go with LittleGreenPuffer's idea as well as your nightlight suggestion. Of course if that doesn't fix it then maybe it's just a really nervous puffer. *shrug*