The Puffer Forum

Hello - I have (2) fangs puffer and a (1) takifugu oscellatus in a 20gallon long with a tons of decors/plants for over 2 months now. Ive been feeding them on shrimp and krill.
However for about a week now the larger fangs puffer have not been very active at all. I have not seen it swim to the top of the tank, begging for food like it used to. What I did notice is this puffer looks kind of bloated (eventhough it has not eaten in a week).
It just kind of stay on one spot, but aggressively tried to fight another puffer that gets close to his hideout. I tried feeding it close to its mouth and it tried to nib at the food but not open its mouth (very little interest).
The other puffers are activng normal and still eat like a pig.

BTW, All 3 fishes have no body damage, no fins damage. They just kind of stay out of each others way.

I changed the water once a week at about 80% - 90% removed with declorinator. Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates at under 10 ppm.

Im new to puffers, so I have no clue what is wrong with the fish?

That tank is too small for all those fish and the oscellatus should be in brackish or salt water. This could be stressing out your puffer and causing him not to eat.

I would definately seperate the puffers. Can't speak for the other puffer but the fangs will turn aggressive sooner or later.

I agree--stress from crowding. Even the 2 fangs should be seperated from each other, IMO. The T oscellatus, will grow quite large & requires colder temps & much saltier water than your FW puffers. Things will not stay stable for long in that tank.

There is a member here (Opia) that has the same symptoms as my fangs puffer, blaoted, not eating close to a week and not moving much.
And several members said it sounds like a bloated problem and Ill try the remedy.
I know its a bit overcrowded, but they seem to get along well. I will separate the fish once they get some size on them, as of now they are just about an inch big and minimal aggression so far.