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#1
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Porcupine Puffer Help
I purchased a 2-3 inch porcupine puffer from the LFS a few days ago to go into my 90g. He had been there for about a month and I had trepidations about getting him as I had read (incorrectly) that he would get 3 foot. As he was being bagged I observed some little white things sticking off of the puffer, but they appeared semetrical and the LFS said they were juvinial spikes. Well, all he has done so far is to sit on the bottom of the tank and look unhappy. He also seems to be breathing heavily. He has eatin a little bit of shrimp and snapped at a hermitcrab a few times. Is this normal behavior for a newly introduced puffer? Any advise at all about this little guy would be greatly appreciated!
~Paul
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#2
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The first week or so that you introduce a porcupine puffer to your tank, they can become very shy. They are very sensitive to salinity changes from the pet store to your tank and have to be acclimated for a long period of time to adjust without fallen to the bottom of the tank and breathing heavily.
It's not odd for them to hide behind rocks or even hover by the bottom of the tank. But when he lays on the bottom of the tank, breathing very heavily and does not come up on his own for food, there is usually a problem. Also they have big appetites, so when they don’t really eat its a sign that something’s wrong. Perhaps can you provide a picture of the white things sticking off the puffer? Could help narrow down possibilities. |
#3
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I am with Bulletsword, they do become shy. I would suggest to soak the shrimp in Selcon, that way what little he eats will provied him with more nutruents. Befor you purchased him did you ask to see if he would eat. Call you LFS and ask what they were feeding him, if different then try that. Once your puffer gets use to you, it will become very social, like a little puppy.
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Genesis 2:28 God blessed them and said to them,"Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." |
#4
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Update! he does eat very rambunciously now! he is still very shy though and doesn't come out except to eat, and then i have to put the food very close to him. Progress is progress though. he doesn't lay on the bottom and breathe anymore, he just hides in a cave now but I do see this as an improvement. the white spines are still sticking up and i'll try to get a picture of them tomarrow.
thanks so much everyone! ~Paul
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#5
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SmackaMuta, thats great. I am glad to see every thing work out.
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Genesis 2:28 God blessed them and said to them,"Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." |
#6
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He will probably eat your crab, their favorite food. And I have dove with them and they do get about as big as a basketball but I have had them for years and in a tank they will stay small.
Paul |
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