The Puffer Forum

I've had Tiger for several years now, and he's been a very shy puffer. He only comes out in the dark, and even then rarely if I'm close to the tank. When I feed him, he sometimes waits for the dark to fall before eating the food, sometimes waits for me to leave the room, or sometimes (but also rarely) zooms out of his hiding, snatches the food, and is gone again in a second. So: he's not a very sociable puffer. Until...

A few days ago, I had to move him. I had planning to do it anyway, but emergency made me jump into my long term plan. A tank started leaking! It was one of my 35 G cory tanks, and I had no backup tank to put the cories into. I had to look around where I could find some spare room, and the only place was Tiger's tank. He had more room than he actually needed. So poor Tiger was moved from his comfortable 32 G to a much smaller 22 G (and some cories moved the other way - together with them, I could squeeze in some of the homeless cories). I even had to nudge his tail to make him move into the box I was taking him out of the tank in. He wasn't very happy about it, and I don't blame him. Well, this was the story about the moving.

Tonight, after doing water changes on some of my tanks, I suddenly realized that Tiger was watcing me. What? Tiger was watching me, and the lights were still on! I sat down and talked a little with him, and he didn't run away! He was all relaxed, but still curious about me. He even let me put my finger to the glass, right in front of him. Wow, what happened to my very shy Tiger? He actually is more relaxed in less space! It's part of the story (and probably part of the solution) that he has more places to hide in his new home. But on the other hand, he can hear me (and my dog) trample past his tank all day (he's in the lowest row of tanks in the rack by the entrance), which I would have believed would make him more nervous. I guess he will never be as sociable as Hufflepuff was, but maybe I will have another interactive turgidus after all. I really miss having a "talking" turgidus.

thats cool that he has opened up.

The first description you made of your turgidus sounded just like one I used to have. He was never out, always hiding and the only time you would see him was late at night, when everyone else was asleep, he'd be out. He wasn't social at all.

But my newest turgidus, Pouty, he's turned into quite a nice puffer. He's very sociable and is quick to come to the front should I stop by his tank. He's also got a good appetite, which I am thankful for.

Aw that is really lovely! I hope he stays this way xx

He actually came out for a short "hi" today too.

pics of tiger?

Maybe he's less worried when he has less territory to keep an eye on.

Pictures???

I will try to get a pic, but I don't think he is ready for me sticking a camera into his face yet.

WOW, he has changed! Today, when I was about to feed him, he came straight up to the glass, moving really agitatedly. I've never seen him like that before! And after he had had his shrimp, and went back under his root, he came out again, when I bowed down and put my finger against the glass. And he tried to bite my finger through the glass! Who stole Tiger, and put another puffer in my tank?

that is very cute!! glad that your puff has become more personable

That is great to hear. I wonder what did it? Could it be as simple as lilgreen said and he is just more comfortable with less territory to watch out for

Who says you can't teach an old puffer new tricks?

I have Leon, my Turgidus, in a 30 gallon tank on the side of my bed right by my head, and I mean right on the side! The tank and stand are actually touching the bed and I wake up to him every morning. His behavior is identical to Tiger's, hides all day, comes out at night, feeds after dark only. The only odd thing with Leon exactly what Tiger has started to do, he comes out and says "Hi" to me every evening or morning (depends on the job schedule) when I wake up. He swims to the glass when I first look in the tank, does this little full body wiggle, and then retreats under his stump. I know Myaj's Turgidus does that to her occasionally too.

Tiger really has changed after moving. I think he feels much more secure in his new tank. He hasn't stopped seeing me. I think it's more when he is hungry. He comes out when I bow down to his tank. But if he is recently fed, he stays under his root. When he is out saying 'hi' to me, he is actually a bit aggressive. He tries to bite me through the glass. He is a grumpy little thing! He has a lot more temper than Hufflepuff had. If I've got visitors, he really don't want to greet us. I try to let my visitors see him, but he really isn't cooperating. But he is sooo much more fun now, than he was when he stayed under his root all the time, and I only saw him every other week.

he dosnt try to kill the corys?