The Puffer Forum

Hi this is my first post, We have just bought a gsp, After keeping other fish for many years we decided that we would like to have a go at a puffer fish, after much research (thanks to this website) we decided that a GSP was best for us.
What we would like to know if the one we bought looks healthy.
Many Thanks
Snapper

Welcome to the forum!

Cute little guy!

Well, happy to have you join the forum Glad you found the forum first, and did the proper research to know what you were getting into! I have never owned a GSP, but I must say Poppy looks quite healthy to me! Bright clear eyes, a nice pretty color and nice white belly. Looks like he's had a good meal in there too, and it doesn't look like he's 'caved in' so he may be IP free.

Hi and welcome to TPF If you haven't seen this article it is also a good read.

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

Thanks for quick replies, ohyouknow you are right he had a meal. Trekenk I had read that article but was unsure what it meant about the belly been caved i noticed poppys wasn't completely round and wasn't sure that is what they meant but thank you so much anyway.

The way I would describe a puffer with physical signs of IP's is it looks like they are 'pinched' - almost like someone took their fingers and spinched their sides, making them cave in. Keep in mind, it still may have IP, and some people still treat for IP just to be sure. I haven't treated my Fahaka yet, but his bowel movements look pretty consistent with what he eats, and he has yet to seem to have any signs of getting anywhere near skinny.

your gonna love him once hes bigger and MARINE

He looks healthy.

keep a close eye on how he looks after feeding and again the next day. if his stomach looks more sunken in than it should only a day after feeding then i would do a precautionary treatment for IP's. he should keep a slightly rounded belly for at least a few days after feeding. i feed mine 4 or 5 times a week because hes a little bigger, but i bet i could go at least a week or two without seeing a major change in his belly size