LFS F8 Full of ???

[Radioactive]

So I was in my LFS again today and I have been keeping an eye on a Figure 8 That is really really FAT. I have seen this fish on 3 different occasions over the last week and it is always HUGE. Is it possible its a female full of eggs? Or maybe its full of poop. The belly does not seem to have lumps at all and is very smooth. Thay have it seperated from another F8 (possibly from fin nipping). I am almost tempted to buy it just to see but then I wouldnt be able to get BBG's for my 29. That and I dont even know if my F8 is a male. The belly is huge on this thing and I can tell it has been for several days. Just wanted to know anyones thoughts on possibilities behind this. They are kept in freshwater with a ph of around 7.8 according to what the guy told me. He also said they dont feed the same thing over and over and like to vary the diet so that they DONT get constipated. Thanks for any input and for reading.

[sgtmyers88]

It could simply be fat. My largest GSP (about 4 in) matches that description as it has a bright white and very round belly. It is quite active too.

[JRC3]

I would keep away from another F8 in a 29g...

Also I had a bad experience once with an F8 that I bought that was very fat and healthy looking. Died a week later from IPs...So glad I QT'd.

Go the BBG route...Here's 2 vids from about 2 yrs ago when I had my F8 and BBGs in a 29g...You won't be disappointed going in the BBG direction.

The second vid is after a slight decor change:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu6_2n2v ... ature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F9UdLr4 ... ature=plcp

[RTR]

Fat puffers are not desirable. It is not healthy. Leave it is the shop.

[Radioactive]

I got 4 BBG's ( very small ) and they are really cool. Im not getting the F8 but it was really tempting while I was at the store tonight. Why should people stay away from Fat puffers at the LFS? Does this normally mean a parasite or constipation? After I have been talking to the people who work there they decided to put the other F8 in the tank with the fat one Just incase it is actually eggs. She is perfectly round (no bulges in her belly) but man she/he seems to keep getting fatter. Im assuming if it is eggs they will drop soon right? Shes been fat for about a week maybe a little more. The guy also said he saw them swimming together alot ( not sure if this is normal since I only have 1 ). Anyway thanks for the feedback this forum is amazing.

[RTR]

Fat is unhealthy and life-shortening in tank fish. I have and have had a lot of old to very-old fish. Not one of them has been fat, zero, none.

A puffer which looks fat very likely is fat. As they have no ribs, food in the gut tends to look like lumps in the belly. Eggs in mature female are nor evenly distributed either in those puffers which I know were female. The eggs tend to be along the sides toward the back of the body. Fat tend to be even and smoother and looks like an over-fed puffer, but it does not diminish significantly with short fasts. Eggs tend to build up and get expelled on an approximately monthly cycle at the most. You catch on to the differences quickly if you do not over feed.

If you want longer life in horses, dogs. fish, or humans, go for lean. Unfortunately, even after over half a century in this hobby, I am still learning how to feed, and the more I learn, the less I feed.

HTH