The Puffer Forum

Ok, i finally purchased a dwarf puffer today. I must spent a good 30 minutes infront of the tank before selecting one.

He's doing good so far, but he's pacing the glass.
I mean, check the puffer pics forum for a pic of my tank. its not barren, its got a good amount of plants and cover, but he is stillpacing the glass. In the store, the tank was barren with just the fish in it...now he has plants, rocks,, etc and is pacing.

its kinda erking me, as, and it can't be because the tank is overstocked either, its just him and 4 otos now(got 3 today with the dwarf + the resident oto).

Ugh. i hope he makes it. the tank is well stocked in snails too,(they hitched hiked in on the plants and have been breeding like crazy, so if he gets hungry i am sure he'll be able to find food. the fish store said that they were feeding the little guys snails and liveblackworms.)

Is there a background on the tank? Mine stopped pacing when I put on a background. Didn't matter how much decor there was. Could be that he's still getting used to the tank, too. I think they tend to be very nervous and skittish and are afraid to do any exploring or move out of a certain area for awhile.

nah, no background yet. gotta go pick up some black matting board or something.

Try a plain black garbage bag. Or a paper bag. Anything really will help.

well, he is hunting. Actively prowling the tank bottom for tiny snail'lings.

i dropped an algae waffer in the tank to localize them.

He has ignored the larger pond snails so far, only looking for tiny ones.

now this morning he is back pacing the glass. I dont get it.

I was watching my silus this morning. When I was in another room, I could see him just meandering around. As soon as I walked into the room, he started pacing up and down the glass. I'm starting to think its not merely out of boredom that they do it, but also for attention.

i am beginnigh to think that as well, as if i sit and watch him from my computer across the room he jusr floats around. If i am laying in bed reading/watching tv (tank is basically my nightstand) he paces.

Could it be Puffish for FEED ME!!

So its going like... FEED ME!! FEED ME!! FEED ME!! FEED ME!!...
Hahahah...

Mine do that all the time when they see me approach the tank... they will start following me around my room... just so adorable...

any chance he is lonely? i know everyone says they will do find bythemselves, but he just seems like he is missing his previous tankmantes.

on the bright side is stomach is whiteish, which is suppose to mean he isn't stressed, correct?

I would give him some more time to settle into his new home. I'm sure he'll be very happy. The only issue with adding another DP is that if your current DP is actually a male, you could have trouble adding a male or female. Two females would be best if there's just two.

i am not positive it is a male, not yet anyways. No stripe or eye wrinkles, but the tail is yellowish.

that little dude has been putting on an act. I came home from school today and crept up into my room and watched him(he didnt know i was there).

Sure enough he was weaving in and out of the plants and whatnot. And when he came up to greet me, he had a nice little round tummy, so he must have ate something.

Also, i think i should mention i bought some ghost shrimp today for him, but i think they are alittle too big(i know atleast 2 of them are. One of the shrimp hs a heap of eggs tho, so i suppose if they are laid and hatch, the puff will have some baby shrimp to eat as well.

edit***
saw him eat two of the larger pond snails this morning after i came home from crew practice.

I also awoke today to a dead oto, the weaker of the newest 3. I went over it a couple times, i didnt see any bite marks, blood, etc. Found the oto face up on the bottom.

So, down to 3 otos. I dunno if the puffer was the cause(no attack marks makes me think not).

He does look like a little devil.