The Puffer Forum

Hi Guys,

Don't know if anyone remembers a few months back I posted on here asking tonnes of questions as I was rescuing a Fahaka Puffer from a friends friend who was not treating him correctly.

Well a few months later and "Ruffa" (cheesy name I know) is doing great so thanks to everyone who helped me.

He is full of energy, always swimming about and following me. Let's me hand feed him and now I have problems trying to clean his tank out as he swims up to me and tries nudging me. He's a funny little thing. Around 6/7" now. Grown really quickly.

However last week or so I have had a small problem with him.....

He is fine until I turn the light to his tank out and then later on my room light. If I even move while in bed or anything happens while its dark he absolutely flips. Starts crashing about, smacking the sides, jumping out the water. Its weird, as its the opposite of how he is during the day.

He even cut his lip it seems, which has healed now since I started using a treatment on it (The name escapes me right now as I'm not at home.)

Just wondered if anyone knows what could be making him act like this?

Water Temp is always fine. Done my water checks and they are all fine. PH, Nitrites, Nitrates and Ammonia. So I'm a bit confused.

If anyone could help it would be great thanks

Maybe a small night light would help him feel more comfortable...

I would suggest what is known as a "moon light". I've seen a blue LED version of this light that sounds like it would help.

My DPs do the same thing both when I turn the light on and when I turn it off. Haven't hurt themselves but they go zipping around willy nilly. I think its the abrupt, unexpected change.

If you use timer(s) for the tank lights, and if needed for an additional low background area like which preceedes the tank light coming on and lasts some minutes after the tank light is off, the fish will learn the light cycle and be less startled.

A night light or moonlight might well help for activity outside the tank during the dark cycle.

My ceylon puffer does this... although he's never hurt himself. I just had to cover the tank really well so he doesn't become a carpet surfer.

He's mellowed out (after about two months), but I still walk softly by his tank at night. I never thought of trying a "night-light" for him... I may pick up a moon light and try it.

Thanks for the help....

It really is weird, as its not when the light is switched off. He can be fine for hours then all of a sudden he just flips. Im to scared to move sometimes.

Will try the small night light idea. Although im moving in the next couple of weeks, so hopefully where he is going shouldn't be any movement at night to scare him. Now I just got to figure out how to move him as he is getting fairly big. Any suggestions.....?

And one more quick question, recently the sand has started getting a thin layer of green stuff over it. Havn't a clue what it is. Having to clean the tank out fairly often now just to get rid of it. But it re-appears within a few days. Again, the temp is fine and all the water readings are correct so I really have not got a clue.

Thanks for everyone's help!