The Puffer Forum

10 gallon hospital tank and former nursery tank, has been set up for over a year, seeded with media from previously established tanks
AquaClear 20 filter- minus the carbon and an air pump powered sponge filter
p.H. 7.6
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate .07
Temp 77

Stress Coat Plus and Melafix are being used

minimal decor- a handful of aragonite sand across the bottom that diminishes with each vacuuming, a piece of driftwood and a piece of terra cotta for hiding under and a bunch of anacharis floating on the surface

I brought the Turgidus home Thursday.

Feeding ramshorn snails, small earthworms and a bit of thawed krill

25-30% water change on Friday and today to vacuum up waste.

So after getting a confirmation on the new puffers identity, I began to start water changes on my other tanks. I glanced over at the new fellow to find him inflating with air! I know this isn't uncommon, but I have NEVER seen my F8's or SAP's EVER do this. He would partially inflate, then deflate, then swim for a bit, then partially inflate, then deflate again. He wasn't swimming erratically and after about 20 minutes he went back to hanging out in his cave his cave.
I'm just wondering how normal this is, I don't want to start panicking unnecessarily.

Relax, it's quite normal. Puffers often inflate for no reason at all, although it's thought that they might be "practising". So no need to worry.

Good, because he's doing it again It's funny, it each species of puffer gives me a case of new parent jitters.

Turgdis are real temperamental and will go off at the slightest irritation. Just having you in the room, moving around, this soon after getting him in his new surroundings could do it. My Turgdis has puffed over the strangest things and, also, for no apparent reason. One minute he's happily hiding, the next he's all up in fins about something. On the flip side, he's one of the most curious puffers I have. I wake to him in the morning and get a "good morning" body wiggle at the glass and the occasional stare down as I fall asleep. He'll investigate nearly anything that comes in to his tank and then attack and try to eat it....You may want to think about adding an actual tight fitting cave for him to hide (don't use coconut, he'll gnaw on it) for security sake and think about eventually getting him a bigger tank so he has more imagined territory (they don't move around much but like to be king of the domain).

Once he settles, and it may be a while, he'll stop the puffing and trying to showing off how tough he is.

Thank you for your helpful response Dadof4! It's good to know this is SOP for a Turgidus.
He is just in the 10 gallon until his fins get better, his eyes clear up and I can be sure he has no IPs. Hopefully it wont be too long. After that he will be going into a 30 breeder.

Beautiful puffer once those fins heal. People that have them usually absolutely love them once they get used to that "Look at me, I'm cute...but don't get to close or I'll puff or rip your nose off" attitude and the hiding thing. I find mine to be more nocturnal than my other puffers and is easier fed in the wee hours of the morning or real late in the evening, live food is a real trip with these guys. Their hunting style is pretty unique, kind of float over to the food then slowly stalk it.

I'm more apprehensive when I hand feed him, that's for sure! MUCH bigger mouth than my F8s and SAPs. Your right about the hunting style, it's completely different from the way SAPs pursue food.

Yeah...I wouldn't hand feed him. Mine "accidentally" got a chunk of me when I was cleaning and took a little flesh. Fiddler crabs are especially fun.....viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18540

Dadof4 wrote:Yeah...I wouldn't hand feed him. Mine "accidentally" got a chunk of me when I was cleaning and took a little flesh.

Time for me to to invest in tongs.

I like the fiddler crab story, maybe once this guy gets a little bigger....

for now just use those cheapo wooden skewers.

safety first