The Puffer Forum

hi, i just got two SAP's and i have a few questions actually. the first one is that tonight when i went to feed my little guys i noticed that one of them had a little bulge on his belly, almost tumor like? i was wondering if that was normal or if anyone knows what it could be? (perhaps he ate one of the ghost shrimp?). also it seems as though 90% of the time they are climbing up and down the glass on one side of the tank, my tank has a nice amount of plants, but i dunno, what should i do to get them to stop, are they stressed? also one of them (the one with the bump) seems like a total scaredy cat, every time i try to take a pic of him and he sees the camera he freaks out and starts spazzing out, trying to swim as far away from me as possible and try to hide and swims all sporadic! also i am curious as too how much i should feed them? would one cube of frozen bloodworms once in the morning and once at night be enough for 2 of these guys and 4 dwarf puffers? thanks.

How big is your tank?

Are you keeping the SAPs with the DPs?

You'll need pretty much a daily supply of snails for the SAPs to keep their teeth trimmed.

its a 29 gallon and the saps are with the dps but they all get along just fine for now and i havent witnessed any aggression between any of my fish at all.

That tank is too small for all those puffers, even if they are getting along right now. Each SAP needs 15 gallon minimum, and the 29 is really only about 25 gallons. Each DP needs 5 gallons. I would prefer to keep the two species seperate as the DPs are slower eaters (from what I hear - never had SAPs) and to avoid aggression and keep all puffers at ease.

They are likely pacing due to space, and they may be bothered by the DPs. It's very likely, though, that the tank isn't decorated enough.

The bump could just be a small amount of food still digesting from their last meal. Sometimes my DPs look somewhat like what you describe when I go to feed them and then it all rounds out.

i would def find a smaller tank for the dwarves and move them( a 15g works, 20g long would be better allowing exactly 5 gallons per puff, which is good).

Better to understock than over.

ALthough probably not an option, you could also leave the dp's in the 29g and invest in a 30/33g long, which the saps would enjoy more since its a bit more swimming space(very active fish).