The Puffer Forum

when you clean your tank do you have to worry about the GSP biting you cuz it looks like it would take a nice chunk out of your finger or hand. would it be safer to put him in a seperate container for cleaning?

It's pretty rare to get bitten while doing a water change. Just make sure that you never feed your puffer with your fingers and it won't associate them with food.

depends on the personality of the fish. you could try gloves perhaps. Most of my GSPs never tried to bite me but I have 1 that gets suicidy and tries to jump from the tank.

i think it helps to feed ur puffer before a water change, they are less likely to go after fingers then!
i have to feed my puffer before a water change, or he just doesnt leave my hand and the syphon alone

LOL

only modestus tried to do some damage to my fingers. That was so funny

My GSP is starting to get brave. The last couple of times I've cleaned/syphoned the tank he has been getting closer and closer to my hand and the syphon. I usually just move my fingers or the syphon his way and he retreats. Not sure what I'm going to do when he gets bigger though.

My miurus bit me all the time.

My Fahaka has gone after me once, but most the time he just chills out.

It would be highly stressful on your puffer every week to move him like that

My female DP goes after my finger when I put it against the outside glass. It is absolutely terrifying.

Jellybean, the littlest of my 2 GSPs bit the underside of my arm when I was siphoning one week. It hurt quite a bit (like a mean little pinch with a fingernail) and he's only an inch and a half long right now. He hasn't tried since, but I definitely don't ever feed them with my hands, they'd get the wrong idea. Just the sight of the plastic fork I use for feeding them shrimp makes them happy/crazy with the thought of food.

JRC3 wrote:My female DP goes after my finger when I put it against the outside glass. It is absolutely terrifying.

I have only one thing to say:

My fahaka comes up for a petting and watches me while I clean the tank, no signs of aggression towards me, though when someone(he doesn't know) comes over to the house and puts their figure up to the glass he'll try and bite it.