The Puffer Forum

Hey guys a couple days ago I replaced my puff's extremely dim light with a slightly brighter one.(It is not extremely bright but lights up the tank) Anyway, today I walked in there and my puff saw me, and darted to the surface like usual to ask for food. When he realized there was no food he headed back down to the bottom but then stopped, stared at the back, and just puffed up. I am prettty sure it was because of him seeing himself in the reflection, because he swam around there staring at himself for about 10 minutes after the puffing had subsided.

Is there anything I can do to make him not see his reflection and freak out, or will this just work itself out in a couple days?

The brighter light'll most likely mean more algae...if your fish keeps freaking out at his own reflection, let the algae build up on the back wall.
I reckon you got it right...he puffed at himself. If it wasn't so stressful, it'd be a funny sight!
Pami.

The reflections that we see from outside the tank are not visible from inside the tank. Try a waterproof periscope or disposable underwater camera if you doubt this.

I agree, the fish does not see double-internal reflections... i.e., through the front glass, the side glass looks like a perfect mirror. Not so to any tank inhabitants.

However, I have seen on numerous occasions my Fahaka swim after the reflection of food in the glass. He is genuinely confused by it, and will follow the reflection as it drifts down the tank. I think these reflections are about lighting contrasts (interior lighting vs. room lighting) rather than incidental angles, and are clearly perceived by fish.

Seeing his reflection in the back wall will depend on the background don't forget. Shiny backgrounds (not necessarily mirrored, just anything shiny) will sometimes show a reflection. My betta took a while to adjust to the black shiny background I put up, eventually algae grew over it but he's still find a clear patch and flare at himself for a bit...

I don't seem to have that issue in the tanks that just have a piece of colored construction paper or poster board for a background though, only the shiny plastic type ones.

Reflections of the type I've described will commonly happen on my front wall. I think darkness of any kind beyond the glass will make internal reflections more visible... Like trying to see out your bedroom window at night with your room lights on.

Algae on the glass is something I try to avoid, regardless of where it's growing, but that might be one solution. Also possible is that the fish (a) wasn't reacting to his reflection, or (b) will soon be accostomed to the reflection. I don't think Puffers are self-conscious, however. They are simply excellent at aquiring learned behaviour. In time he might learn there's no threat from the mysterious phantom puffer on the other side of the glass.

LOL! I am less meticulous on that. Attached non-filamentous algae on non-view-through glass I consider nitrate sequestering, I allow it commonly and harvest as required to keep it from shaling off. Cheap small-scale veggie filters for me.

I do suppose that none of my tanks are ever in very dark rooms, other than the reverse light cycle veggie filters, and they have ordinarily no fish, only shrimp or snails or both. And my backings tend to be matte.

the tank in this discussion does not have a background on it because it has a dark blue wall behind it. As far as algae growing on glass that is one of my pet peeves but if this continues(which it hasn't today) I will try it.