The Puffer Forum

I just came home from a party. I went to my aquarium to check inon the puffers. After turning on the light, immediately caught sight of them resting at the bottom. It seemed like they were oblivious. After a minute or two, I saw them swim more actively but kept hitting the glass (not hard though).

Is this normal? Are they dying? I've check the NO2 levels yesterday and they were fine. Still yellow. I don't think turning from yellow to red will take place in less than a day. Are they dying or were they simply resting and got blinded by the lights?

They were probably sleeping. Were they swimming into the glass, or just begging up and down the glass?

They were most likely just sleeping- they run into stuff because they are groggy.

they swam into the glass? sure they were sleeping? Didn't know that fish slept

I'd like to know how your SAPs are?

I have been a puffer owner for several years now but new to SAPs. Just today, I noticed my only SAP (in a 30 gal tall with only ghost shrimp and a dwarf pleco) hitting the glass every so often.

Although, I have not seen him/her on the bottom unless hunting. My levels were fine as well, but since it has been 7 days, I did a 50% water change today.

Maybe you will have good news...I understand from this site, that these guys bruise easily.

Is this condition possibly similar to when our African Cichlids will "bump" into items in the aquarium. It is said to be a early warning sign of stress and usually if we change the environment some this ceases. ?? Anybody.

Thanks.

My SAP's always swam against the glass like they were trying to swim through it, until I added a heck of a lot of plants and decor to their tank. Then they spent more time hunting and swimming than begging for food or ramming mindlessly into the wall.

Usually when they nap and wake up suddenly, they are very disoriented, sometimes even have some trouble uncurling their fins and swimming. That just seems to be a puffer nap time thing.

My SAP's were like that soon after the light came on, as is my figure 8.

I would check the water stats though, as it can be a sign of ammonia poisoning, the bumping into things. Never hurts to do a water test.

The other thing I would be worried about, is my last SAP died after it bumped into the glass and developed an internal injury. It was obvious because it was a slight pink under the skin on its head. It was quite obvious as it was unable to swim properly at all.

These are 2 possibilities, but as it's just after the lights came on, I'd say it's just adjusting.

My SAPs sleep at the bottom of the tank. It seems to be what they do. They're very dozy if I wake them up, and take a minute or two to reach normality.

One thing I'd mention is SAPs seem (to me) to be happier in groups, even duos. They like to sleep next to each other, hidden among the plants. They are also much less nervous. As Fella said (and I've had the same thing) if they go nuts and swim into the glass or the hood, bruises seem to lead to death. So anything you can do to calm them down is a good thing, and giving them a pal is definitely a plus. They have zero territoriality as far as I can tell, and the science at least is they live in schools and exhibit no brood care at all (hence don't guard nests or territories). Of course, behaviour in the wild doesn't always equal behaviour in an aquarium, but for my part, I consider them sociable, schooling fish.

Cheers, Neale