The Puffer Forum

Tank info- 55g display, 10g sump. Established for 2 months, cycled with live rock and sand. Inhabitants are the blue dot puffer and 2 clown fish.
Salinity 1.025
PH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10
Water changes 50% a week divided in 3 changes.

I’ve had the puffer 2 weeks, he’s been flashing occasionally since i brought him home. Fish store said they just do that sometimes. He developed what looks like a scrape on one side that i attributed to his flashing. Now he’s gotten some dark areas on each side and near his tail. Fish store says that means he’s happy and I’m overreacting . He seems to eat great and act normal ( I’ve never had fish, but i think he’s normal). The dark areas look like his skin as opposed to something ON his skin. I’ve never seen him poop, so can’t say how that looks, but never seen anything odd in the water. When he flashes it looks more like he’s aiming for his face then his gils, but not sure. Could a gill parasite cause the skin changes? Or two separate issues?

I have photos, but it’s saying file too large and i don’t know how to make them smaller…

Oh, also I have some snails in the tank. I put a few in at the same time as the puffer, then a few smaller ones about a week later when i found out he might like to eat them. I don’t think he has- i found 1 dead but not sure if he ate it or what.

They eat LRS fish frenzy and I’ve tried to give him frozen clams in a half shell which he pecked at a little.

It sounds like you're fish is on to a great start! Can you please post a pic of your issue? You'll have to upload it elsewhere & then link here.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LoQ6oEhP3VSdCwuG7

Video: https://photos.app.goo.gl/titgDETKNbAPu3Ut7

Thank you so much for your help!

I think it may be a mood thing. If he's eating/swimming normally & parameters are great, I wouldn't worry. Is he an only fish?

Oh really? Meaning he might still be a little stressed? There are two clowns that were added about a week before the puffer. Never seen any issues between them, However the last two feedings they did come over to him and try to take his food from his mouth. They all eat once per day, and i make sure the puffer gets enough so his belly is just a little round. He does eat and swim normal (i think). Greets me every time i come to the tank. Only behavior that I’m not sure is normal is the flashing he does sometimes, which is mostly on the side with the darkest marks.

If the flashing gets more frequent, you may want to treat the tank for Ich. Ich-X works great.

Ok, great. Thank you!

My puffer’s skin is still about the same, the dark areas are more grey now but otherwise he’s the same. I did see him poop for the first time today, at first came a cloudy white liquid and then white poop. I wouldn’t call the poop stringy. I let looked like chunks his food, which is The frozen LRS frenzy. Does this sound normal? Mostly wondering about the cloudy liquid that came out first. Given his skin stuff wondering if maybe i should treat for a parasite? The other inhabitants ( 2 clowns) seem completely normal.

Probably peed before it pooped. Sounds normal. IDK what parasite you'd treat for.

Oh jeez, lol. I did a quick search before i posted to see if puffers pee and got that they urinate through their gills. But that is what it looked like, white pee I guess i overreact to everything. Thank you again!

My puffers skin has stayed about the same, and he gets these cloudy spots on his dorsal fin sometimes. They come and go. Never thought much of it, but today I’ve noticed him leave that fin kind of limp sometimes. I’ve never seen him do that before. He is still eating great, acting the same- though maybe has spent more time laying in his resting spot. Do you think the fin cloudiness is anything to worry about?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LPzuFvANv19NXCT98

If it comes & goes, I wouldn't worry.