my poor puffer

transman · #1 04/30/2003, 10:36 AM

i recently put a dogface puffer in my 55 with my lionfish,at first i thought he was not going to make it he just stayed at the top with very little movement after a few hours he perked up and was fine for three or four days, now he just lays in the bottom with very little movement,he didnt come out for feeder fish last night so i got him some shrimpand he ate those but then returned to the rocks,are they nocturnal?any help would be greatly apreciated

Puffygrrl · #2 04/30/2003, 10:50 AM

I can't speak from experience with a Dogface, but I have a Porky Puff (Diodon Holocanthus). He did the very same thing upon addition to the tank (and he was the only one in there!). I have had him for about 3 months now and he exibits the same behavior. Stays lodged in the rocks all day till feeding time, where he becomes very energetic and eats a TON and then goes back into his rocks. I haven't heard anything about Puffers being nocturnal, but I do know that when they are digesting they lay on the bottom of the tank - this is a very common posture for a puffer and many pictures I have seen on the internet and in books are of them resting on the bottom of the tank. Once I cut down my guys krill intake from 8-10 krill a day to 4-5 a day he started being more active. Keep in mind he is still getting adjusted. Give him some time and keep you eye on him, but his behavior sounds normal to me. Good luck!

AAA88 · #3 04/30/2003, 05:34 PM

i have one. dont feed them any freshwater feeders they are so bad for them. mine did the same thing for a while but now is out all the time.

transman · #4 05/01/2003, 07:51 AM

i also have a lion fish in the tank ,i was told that i should feed him rosies,if their good for him then why are they bad for my puffer
how can i9 feed one without the other getting them

mtodd001 · #5 05/01/2003, 09:19 AM

Are freshwater feeders bad for lionfish?

Iammatt219 · #6 05/01/2003, 10:12 AM

you should not be feeding freshwater fish to saltwater fish. Both of these fish can be taught to take food from a stick so taht you can feed them frozen saltwater feeds. If you like to feed live than try some saltwater ghost shrimp or mollies that have been living in saltwater for ~1 week or longer

mtodd001 · #7 05/01/2003, 10:50 AM

The lfs in the midwest don't carry sw ghost shrimp. fw ghost shrimp die after 2 or 3 days in sw tank. frozen works, but lionfish enjoy the hunt. mollies are an expensive treat.

joseven · #8 05/01/2003, 11:26 AM

I have been having a puffer for more than a year; he is the older in my aquarium. Puffers are very smart fishes

Do not worry about this behavior, mine did the same but finally it adapted.

He usually makes the same when he found his place not so safe; he goes to the surface and keeps there until everything is calm, At night he does the same until everybody go to sleep then He goes to bed until the morning.

He lay into the sand (it cover itself) so he can rest for a while or until you give him some food (puffers do not stop eating)
Certainly is a fish to enjoy more when he inflates with no reason.
Mine have sleep with an starfish over him.

Just enjoy it