The Puffer Forum

why do my GSP's in full marine keep rubbing up against the fake plant in there? its very cute to watch but is it normal?

Check him closely for white spots--looks like salt.

Do they approach the plant slowly and then "flick" it real quick with their body and then come back and do it again?

If so, I've noticed this in my redeye puffers (C irrubesco), and with mine, it's not whitespot (ich), it just appears to be something they do. When I first noticed mine doing it, I thought they were ill and I inspected them very closely, but they were fine, and I seen one of my females doing it yesterday. Not sure what it means, but it's one of those weird behaviours that I have no explanation of -- only that I'm sure my fish don't have whitespot.

I have 2 GSPs - the larger one "flashes" like that fairly regularly & has done since I have had him (5 months or so now). There is no signs of whitespot, or any injuries of any sort. I spoke in depth with RTR about my water quality in case there was some irritant in the tank. But we have drawn a blank so far. He is fat & healthy & RTR feels that there is not really anything I am doing wrong, so not really anything I can correct! So, unless it develops into something, I will continue as I am & leave well alone! I started to wonder if it was a behavioural thing ?dominance or something, but I don't really know.

yea mine does exactly that. every once in a while he will "flick" it with his body. hes perfectly fine otherwise and i havent seen any white spot. i thought maybe he had an itch! lol

You are definitely not alone. Mine also does it but I am pretty sure it is because I have a good colony of copepods running about (tiny white harmless crustaceans). It's possible they may tickle him at times but it isn't affecting his sleep so I'm not worried.