can dwarf puffers get depressed?

[rachy]

might sound a silly question lol, but it wouldnt surprise me if they could!!
anyways, havent posted in hospital section, cos im not sure it counts as sickness!! ive got a 20g tank with 6 dps in, 4 girlies + 2 boys. the past 2 days, 1 of the boys dosent look very happy, he seems 2 b hiding a lot, and just sitting around most the time. also his colours look really pale when usually they arent. ive tested all levels etc in the tank, done about a75% water change, just in case it was that,, but hes still the same he still eats like a little pig at worm times, but hes not coming out for worms anymore, just kinda eats from under a bush or something. anyone think what it could b?? ive watched them loads, ive never seen him getting bullied or anything

[LilGreenPuffer]

Saying he's "depressed" would be anthropomorphizing, but he's probably stressed by something. My DPs don't spend a lot of time in the open, but when I do see them, they're usually very active, always darting and chasing through the plants and driftwood. Can you try keeping him in his own tank and see whether community life just doesn't suit him?

[PolishPuff]

Saying he's "depressed" would be anthropomorphizing, but he's probably stressed by something. My DPs don't spend a lot of time in the open, but when I do see them, they're usually very active, always darting and chasing through the plants and driftwood. Can you try keeping him in his own tank and see whether community life just doesn't suit him?

I agree, just like for humans stress is a killer.

[rachy]

yep ive got a tank that i can put him in, the littlest babies were gonna go in there, but there ok where they are for now
wouldnt b so concerned bout him acting like that except for the fact that hes always usually so active etc..well all the puffs in there are, but he was always the most active i would say.wonder what changed!! will go move him now see how he goes

[rachy]

well that worked hes much happier now!! guess he just got bored of being in a gang lol

[LilGreenPuffer]

Hey, that's great! Glad to hear he's feeling better.

[Myaj]

Maybe he's just one of those men that can't handle being around stronger men *wink*

Now he's got his own "castle"

[rachy]

after i took the boy puffer out of the big tank, 1 of the females in there started getting bullied badly by the other male + female, so i put her in with the boy i just moved as a temp fix...was intending setting her a small tank of her own up. ive just cleaned their tank out, and it turns out theyre breeding in there now aswell!! i found 13 eggs, but ive got a feeling i threw more than that down the toilet didnt even think they could b breeding, so didnt bother checking the bucket before i emptied it, the 1s i found were just stuck on the bottom of the bucket!! some of the eggs are at least 4 days old aswell, so they must have started as soon as i put that girl in there puffers are good pretenders man lol, they were both so unhappy till i put them together!anyways, pleased 2 say they both look happy now and ive got puff babies being born in both tanks

[LilGreenPuffer]

OMG! You're so lucky! And you must be taking great care of them, with the way that they're breeding so much!

[rachy]

thanks lgp i hope i amtaking good care of them