The Puffer Forum

Hi all, ive just recently got my Dogface puffer which is the last fish to go in my 6x2x2 FOWLR tank.

Ive done a fair amount of research and have found that the common reason for a puffer puffing is stress, well my puffer has puffed several times in a week so im wondering if I should be concerned?

the few times ive seen him puff he has been in open water doing his thing and just decides to puff, its not like another fish spooked him or anything that could cause him to feel stressed, he just appears to decided to puff and then deflate straight away.

he is around 3" long and my tank has been running for around 6 months, water parameters are all ok except NO3 which has crept up to just under 10 but I believe thats down to extending my water change frequency to 3 weeks, could also be somewhat of a spike as the bioload has just been increased by the puffer.

PO4 is and always has been 0.03, all other levels are zero, I have had an ongoing battle with red cyno but put that down to my tank needing to mature.

any comments would be appreciated !

Rgds Lee.

Hello Lee! Glad you did your research!

Sometimes puffers just puff because they can. Call it practice puffing, if you will. That sounds like what is happening here. If there are no other signs of stress or any reason for them to spook it doesn't appear to be a problem. Does the fish have hiding places, places it can go to feel secure? Are there other fish in there that could be harassing him and you may not be aware? Could there be something he is seeing in the glass that looks like a threat to him? Some puffers have color issues (I have one that can't tolerate the color red), is there something near the tank with a bold color?

Just a few thoughts.

hi Dadof4n thanks for the reply, some good info ! yes he does have hiding holes and has already made one of those his own but has other places he gets himself into at other times.

i only have a total of 4 fish in my 6x2x2 (that was always planned that way, although one of the fish a Harlequin Wrasse is a bit flighty however the puffer doesnt seem that bothered by him as he just swims by.

the tank isnt near anything of bright colour, the decor in that room is all dull colors.

from what ive read and now what you have told me I feel that it may just be what you suggest!

Ill keep a watchful eye.

Thanks Lee.