The Puffer Forum

I have a burrfish about 3" n I've had him for a few months. He's always happy and swimming around and always where Im at if I'm near the tank. My little brother loves feeding time because all of the fish come out in front of the tank and I believe he's been feeding them himself somehow and I caught him this last time because I was worried about overfeeding. Well all my fish are fine except for my puffer he has a lump on his back right side near his tail. Someone told me it was a lump in his intestines from eating to much? Is this true? And if so what do I do!! He's still as happy as can be but I'm still worried its been like this for a couple hours now

Puffers don't have ribs, so you see all their foods as lumps from the inside.

Lock up the food. Overfeeding (or inappropriate feeding, or both)is the number one cause of water quality and long-term fish problems.

Generally agree w/PP on the lack of ribs making food in the intestines readily visible, which it is not in fish with ribs. But discrete lumps on the back near the spine may be systemic parasites (commonly nematodes) those lumps tend to be immobile for days to weeks, while intestinal lumps move continuously but slowly. Systemic parasites are generally untreatable.

Well I woke up this morning to him spitting water and his lump was gone thank god but I've got a clown that I've had for a couple weeks and he looks and seems fine but doesn't seem to be eating hell go after it but it doesn't look like he's getting any of it into his mouth