The Puffer Forum

Erm... are they supposed to change shape so much?? I've not fed him today, he's been picking bits out of the substrate instead (bits of mussel he missed the other day), now he's got a very large tummy. I'm thinking he's been feeding on the snails too, though I've not seen him actually eat one. He looks like a golf ball with a head and tail glued on

(I sound like such a newbie...I'm sorry for all the questions )

Don't be sorry! My puffers change shape a LOT. My miurus actually shows a bump in the shape of what he ate, it's cute. I wouldn't worry, although I'd try to get the leftover food out asap next time. He's not puffed is he? If he's not, and you have no other symptoms of illness, I'd just enjoy your unique pet.

2 of my figure 8's go from normal fat to lumpy obese when I feed them.

Oh no, he's definitely not puffed. I did a good hoovering the other day when I did one of the many water changes, so I'm not even sure it's food debris he's been at (I'm so worried about the water quality I'm removing any scrap of food the moment he's lost interest). I'm starting to think he's been at the snails. He's paid so little attention to them, probably due to being uncomfortable, but now he's feeling a little more relaxed. This is the happiest I've seen him since he's been here.

I feel so guilty about the whole water thing, I do have to keep remembering where he's come from. I found out Diddy and the F8 had been on a diet of flaked food - luckily, the person who owned them hadn't had them long, so I guess he didn't manage to do too much damage to Diddy.

That's right, he came out of a bowl didn't he? Wow, so bad... ANyway, I wouldn't worry about it, just keep an eye on him and keep up your great maintenance.

Thanks Lisa. I've no idea what the other circumstances were, or what the size of the bowl was. I'm not surprised we lost the F8 so quickly - it was either a shock to the system, or he'd just gone beyond the point of no return. He was a fair bit smaller than Diddy, and thinner too.

Very much hoping to get some ghost shrimp for him at the weekend, so we'll have to see how good his hunting skills are

Hope all goes well.

I bet he's a great hunter! It can be very neat to watch. I hope your puff does really well, it's so rewarding to save an innocent life from certain death...your puffer is lucky to have you!

Thanks Tihsho and Lisa. I've certainly had a crash course in puffers My other half thinks I'm mad - every time he comes in from work I'm doing a water change.

My hydrometer arrived today, so I think I'll pick up some marine salt and begin changing him to brackish this weekend (don't worry, I've read as much as I can here about it and will do it over a period of weeks )

Great, Good Luck!

Glad you did your research

Puffers lack ribs (which most fish have aplenty), so their body shape is quite plastic. That is all part of the of the ability to puff.

that and two layers of skin. a folded and wrinkly inner skin, that stretches incredibly and an outer skin that is not as elastic but is much more streamlined for swimming. otherwise the fish would have a terrible time swimming with all those folds of skin creating drag.