The Puffer Forum

I've searched high and low on here for info on this and have not reached a conclusion so I'm just going to post it.

One of my puffers (the same guy I've posted about not being interested in food) now has a black belly. It's not completely black, just along the sides and as soon as I go to the tank he starts swimming around and the black fades back to white again in seconds. Is this normal?

I was going to post in the hospital section but I'm not sure if he's really sick or if it's normal.

what color is your substrate?

i know gsps can get black stress lines
is is the whole belly going black?
or just aroind the sides?

Substrate is beige in color, like sand.

The belly is only going black down his sides, like right under the green. He usually looks like he's resting on the bottom when I notice and then when I go to check on him he starts swimming and it goes to white again. He did eat a little bit of shrimp when I offered it a bit ago. Not much, but something.

GSPs can turn black if stressed, in water with high nitrates, nitrites and ammonia, if they are bored, if the are hiding (camoflauge)..and for whatever reason they like....on the same note, they can also turn light..

But in your case, he is probably turning black becuase he is sleeping on the bottom (camouflage)

No worries But check your water parameters just in case.

ok, great!

I just did a partial water change today, so I'll check them again...