so every morning when i wake up i go and turn on the lights on my GSPs tank. This morning I woke up and did the same thing, except i slept in so i was about half an hour late. Well Verde (my GSP) comes and greets me at the front of the tank, "yawns" and puffs up! He was a good 3 inches from side to side, if not a bit more. And then deflates him self and swims away, I feed him his krill and he continues on like normal.
Now here I am sitting there saying "that was the coolest thing i've ever seen" but thinking about it. Ive read that puffers only "puff up" when theyre threatened or stressed. So I checked my water params. Everything checked out good.
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: between 10-20
Ph: around 7.5
Salinty: 1.006
Should I be worried about this? Or was this just a fluke, or maybe the light startled him?
when a puffer puffs up....
-
verdethegsp
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:39 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 80gal: Green Spotted Puffer, Verde
Other Fish Friends:
55gal: BGK, albino cherry barbs, dalmation mollies, silvertipped tetras, otos, kuhli loaches
30gal: guppies and dalmation mollies (eventually will be planted with some DPs)
20gal: crowntail betta, neon tetras, glowlight tetras, zebra danios, amano shrimp
3-10gals: 1st-snail and ghost shrimp tank, 2nd-QT/hospital tank, 3rd-empty future project (nano reef) - Location (country): Manitoba, Canada
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
when a puffer puffs up....
Michelle
MTS...multitank syndrome, can't stop need more
MTS...multitank syndrome, can't stop need more
-
Troender
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1843
- Joined: Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:04 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 1x GSP (Bolla), 1x m. something. Bought as a leiurus, maybe a turgidus (Tiger), 1x c. irrubesco (Tott(a) aka Houdini) 1x c. salivator (Jack the Ripper), 1x m. cochinchinensis (Hufflepuff - R.I.P.), 2x c. lorteti (Tommy and Tigern = Calvin and Hubbes), 1x m. suvatti (Koseklumpen), 1x m. palembangensis (Dragonfly), 2x t. biocellatus (Koken and Fiken).
- Location: Askim, Norway
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
Some puffers do practice puffs. It's nothing to worry about. It's a bit scary the first time you experience it (I almost got a panic attack the first time one of my puffers puffed), but just relax and enjoy the sight.
Inger Anne
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just think how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of them are even stupider! -George Carlin
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just think how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of them are even stupider! -George Carlin
-
JRC3
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 904
- Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:10 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: F8(55g)
F8 (46g)
4-DP(29g) - Location (country): U.S.
- Location: S.W. OH
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
I saw a GSP partially puff up once to force out a poop. Besides the krill what has he been eating?
There are many knowledgeable fish keepers on this forum willing to help and give great advice...The advice is free; What you choose to do with it gives it value.
-
verdethegsp
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:39 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 80gal: Green Spotted Puffer, Verde
Other Fish Friends:
55gal: BGK, albino cherry barbs, dalmation mollies, silvertipped tetras, otos, kuhli loaches
30gal: guppies and dalmation mollies (eventually will be planted with some DPs)
20gal: crowntail betta, neon tetras, glowlight tetras, zebra danios, amano shrimp
3-10gals: 1st-snail and ghost shrimp tank, 2nd-QT/hospital tank, 3rd-empty future project (nano reef) - Location (country): Manitoba, Canada
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
well he has lots of ghost shrimp in the tank with him, i fed the shrimp spinach and some veggie discs before they go in the thank so there is some nutritional value in them. he eats the krill once a day (loves the eyes), sometimes we feed him bloodworms and brine shrimp (thawed in vitamin H20) anf of course snails. we tried squid once but he didnt go for it.
Michelle
MTS...multitank syndrome, can't stop need more
MTS...multitank syndrome, can't stop need more
-
verdethegsp
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:39 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 80gal: Green Spotted Puffer, Verde
Other Fish Friends:
55gal: BGK, albino cherry barbs, dalmation mollies, silvertipped tetras, otos, kuhli loaches
30gal: guppies and dalmation mollies (eventually will be planted with some DPs)
20gal: crowntail betta, neon tetras, glowlight tetras, zebra danios, amano shrimp
3-10gals: 1st-snail and ghost shrimp tank, 2nd-QT/hospital tank, 3rd-empty future project (nano reef) - Location (country): Manitoba, Canada
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
oh i just wanted to add we don't feed him freeze dried at all, only live(snails and shrimp) and frozen (krill, bloodworms, brine shrimp)
Michelle
MTS...multitank syndrome, can't stop need more
MTS...multitank syndrome, can't stop need more
-
RTR
- Mentor
- Posts: 6155
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 4:39 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location (country): East Coast, USA
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
In the wild, puffing is avoid predation and as a threat. But all puffers do seem to "practice" especially when young. In one of my labs i had a tank of young puffers (GSPs) beside my desk - those were observed much more than I get to do with most fish. They puffed up not infrequently, just a quick gulp/series of gulps and instant tennis ball. It never seemed part of any interaction, just something they did from time to time. Quite a few of my puffers I never saw puffed. it is chance and lucky observation and harmless.
The statement saying the contrary was someone with too little puffer experience or a good imagination IMHO.
The statement saying the contrary was someone with too little puffer experience or a good imagination IMHO.
Where's the fish? - Neptune
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
Try some meatier foods from your grocery store fish dept:
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
verdethegsp
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:39 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 80gal: Green Spotted Puffer, Verde
Other Fish Friends:
55gal: BGK, albino cherry barbs, dalmation mollies, silvertipped tetras, otos, kuhli loaches
30gal: guppies and dalmation mollies (eventually will be planted with some DPs)
20gal: crowntail betta, neon tetras, glowlight tetras, zebra danios, amano shrimp
3-10gals: 1st-snail and ghost shrimp tank, 2nd-QT/hospital tank, 3rd-empty future project (nano reef) - Location (country): Manitoba, Canada
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
thanks for the help guys. i was a little freaked out i thought something was wrong, but i guess its normal.
PufferPunk, so i can just go to my grocery store, by some crab legs or whatever, and feed them to him? do i cook them? lol
PufferPunk, so i can just go to my grocery store, by some crab legs or whatever, and feed them to him? do i cook them? lol
Michelle
MTS...multitank syndrome, can't stop need more
MTS...multitank syndrome, can't stop need more
-
Ohyouknow
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 756
- Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 2:26 pm
- My Puffers: Vicious (T. Lineatus - Fahaka)
- Location (country): Indiana, USA.
- Contact:
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
Just wanted to pop in - any raw seafood stuffs is fine... don't cook it, it cooks out all the good nutrients! Raw and thawed (freeze or keep frozen until you thaw to feed, to kill possible parasites!)
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
-
verdethegsp
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:39 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 80gal: Green Spotted Puffer, Verde
Other Fish Friends:
55gal: BGK, albino cherry barbs, dalmation mollies, silvertipped tetras, otos, kuhli loaches
30gal: guppies and dalmation mollies (eventually will be planted with some DPs)
20gal: crowntail betta, neon tetras, glowlight tetras, zebra danios, amano shrimp
3-10gals: 1st-snail and ghost shrimp tank, 2nd-QT/hospital tank, 3rd-empty future project (nano reef) - Location (country): Manitoba, Canada
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
okay thanks i'm going grocery shopping tomorrow, so i'll check out some stuff
Michelle
MTS...multitank syndrome, can't stop need more
MTS...multitank syndrome, can't stop need more
-
xrayjeeper83
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 4167
- Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 9:31 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Fahaka named Bloat
Abei named Huey
GSP named Bacon - Location (country): USA
- Location: Orange Park, FL
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
and krill can cause lock jaw right?
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
Only puffer so far that I've heard developing lockjaw from krill is the porc but I wouldn't feed it as a staple to any fish.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
BiffMalawi
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:33 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: None BooHoo
Previously
Auriglobus modestus
Carinotetraodon irrubesco
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Monotrete turgidus
Monotrete Palembangensis
Monotrete Abei
Tetraodon biocellatus
Tetraodon nigroviridis - Location (country): Canada
- Location: Toronto
- Contact:
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
I had a turgidus who would puff evwery day about the same time. The tank was by my bed so in the morning I would watch him for a while. He would swim over by the filter intake and then just sit there until the filter sucked him up against the intake, he would puff swim around in a circle twice let it out and then repeat. 3 or 4 times then swim away
-
RTR
- Mentor
- Posts: 6155
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 4:39 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location (country): East Coast, USA
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
LOL @ Biffmalawi! I would love that tank! Real and literal puff play!
Where's the fish? - Neptune
-
borgey
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 216
- Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2010 4:08 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: 1 Tetraodon biocellatus, 3 Colomesus asellus, 4 Carinotetraodon travancoricus
- Location (country): U.S.A
- Location: Providence, RI/Boston, Ma
Re: when a puffer puffs up....
LOL! That's awesome. They are so funny with the things they do sometimes. I would love to see that.BiffMalawi wrote:I had a turgidus who would puff evwery day about the same time. The tank was by my bed so in the morning I would watch him for a while. He would swim over by the filter intake and then just sit there until the filter sucked him up against the intake, he would puff swim around in a circle twice let it out and then repeat. 3 or 4 times then swim away