Dark GSP  10/12/06
Howdy, dear WWM crew~~
<Hi Linda , Pufferpunk here>
I have read and re-read your posts on this issue with GSPs but after checking on all possible problematic causes for dark blotches on my GSP, I still can't come up with the culprit.  Help!!  I'll try to be as detailed as possible.
First, the background:  I am the owner of a beloved GSP (Puffy) who is presently about an inch and a half in length.  My LFS sold him to me as a 'leopard puffer' about a month and a half ago and until about two weeks ago he was a very healthy fellow.  His colors were fairly light olive with very dark spots (on his back) when I purchased him but he has started showing dark grey/black blotches along his tummy where the white meets the color of his sides, with an occasional tiny black spot where a belly button might be in the middle of his underbelly and his overall coloration has turned a dull muddy brown on his back, still with a bright green spot on his 'forehead', his sides are whitening/bleaching out and his spots fade in and out during the day.
Puffy is presently in a 10 gal. tank awaiting his impending move to a 55 gal. brackish water tank I am setting up for him as quickly as I can manage it.  He is housed with 4 platies I have had only for a couple of days who will also make a move with him to the BW tank.  The platies are healthy and all doing fine in the tank, and there is no competition/aggression.  
<If you value the platies lives at all, you will remove them.  The puffer will kill them, no doubt.  Also they will not appreciate the higher salinity needed for the puffer.>
As Puffy was sold to me in FW, I have kept him in FW until last week (before platies arrived), when I began to acclimate him to a low specific gravity of 1.004-1.007 (presently at 1.004, using Ocean Marine Salt), thinking that perhaps the FW was the reason he was darkening.  
<Could be.  They are best kept at mid-range BW (1.008-12) when young & brought up towards marine conditions as adults.  I wouldn't raise the SG more than .002 weekly, as not to disturb biological filtration.>
I have had a terrible time keeping the 10 gal. tank gravel clean but have been performing water changes of 50-75%, while vacuuming the gravel once or twice weekly as necessary, to keep the grunge down.  (I am considering logging into some forums for good advice on how to clean it better since I cannot get out the floaties in the water that re-settle on the gravel after I have vacuumed!  
I feel I am already changing out as much of the water as I dare to get the grunge!)  
<A better filter/larger tank will help.  Are you possibly overfeeding?>
I know I have too many nutrients in the tank because I have had some difficulties with hair algae and brown algae growing and I am trying to limit the lighting.  I also upped my 20-30 gal. filter to a 50 gal. filter for extra filtration.  Puffy is only being fed 1 time a day and he gets either a defrosted square of bloodworms, a small amount of dried krill, defrosted square of brine shrimp or a pond snail whenever I can get one (I'm also having trouble finding them for sale, and my LFS is stingy on freebies, so I have 2 common pond snails in a 2 gal. tank and am hoping to breed my own).
<Are you dumping out the water you are defrosting the cubes in through a brine shrimp net?  The "juice" that they are packed in aren't good for your water & can cause problems.  
Here's a better diet for your puffer: http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/puffer/food.html >
Water parameters are okay as far as I can tell:  Ammonia is at .5 (I've never been able to get it to drop to 0, no matter what and I started cycling this tank in July according to exact instructions!),
<Again, maybe from overfeeding.  Test your tap water to be sure.  Any ammonia is not "OK" as far as parameters go.  Another cause of your puffer's dark coloration.>
Nitrite 0; Nitrate <20; Hardness 150; Total
Alkalinity 100; Ph 7.8 and am not using any additives other than Ammo-Lock to neutralize ammonia in water changes, along with Stress Coat for the chlorine/chloramines neutralizer.
<Better, would be to use Prime.>   
Now the question:  What else can I do to help this poor GSP?  He has been continuing to eat, but doesn't seem to be very happy - he runs up and down the tank sides (probably because he is bored or the tank is too small)
<Correct on both.>
or just mulls around the bottom of his tank and his tail fin isn't opened up.  I have tried to be careful not to ruin my tank's biological base when doing the water changes/change of equipment, and I honestly don't think it's the water quality but if not, what is it?  If it is the size of his 10 gal. tank, well then, all I have to do is paint the wall behind his 55 gal. tank before finalizing set-up.  I have it outfitted with marine sand (shell) as a base, with two 50 gal. BioWheel filters, two heaters, heavily planted with plastic plants and as soon as I can fill it, I'll use live sand to kick start the cycling, with seeded filters from my other 55 gal FW tank, and a couple of live rocks.  Am I missing anything?  Would I be better off using Bio-Spira?  Any advice from you is extremely welcome, as I revere your expertise!
<Bio-Spira is always helpful when cycling but you could also just move the filter over from your present tank for a month, while the new ones mature (along with the fish).  With just 1 small puffer in a 55g tank, that should be enough bacteria in that filter to support the fish.  
More GSP info: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/gspsart.htm
Also visit: http://www.thepufferforum.com   
Good luck with Puffy, he will love that big tank!  Don't be in a hurry to stock it with a lot of other fish.  ~PP>
Thanks~~ Linda W.

Bored Puffer  9/29/06
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have a green spotted pufferfish (about 2") in a 55 gallon reef tank.  He constantly swims up and down on one side of the tank, rubbing his face along the side.  The rubbing is causing a lesion under his mouth.  His color is bright, his belly is white and he's eating well and active.  I recently put a mirror in his tank to entertain him because I thought he might be bored.  Is there another reason for this behavior or are there any other tricks I can try?  Also, how should I feed him snails?  I drop them in the tank but he doesn't see them.  Is there a trick to that too?
<Has this started since you added the mirror?  If yes, then take it out.  Does the puffer have any tank mates?  Are they bothering him?  Puffers really don't need other fish to keep them company.  I think he could be bored. How heavily decorated is his tank?  They need a ton of decor to explore to keep themselves occupied.  
Here is my 55g GSP tank: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/Pufferpunk/Pufferpics/55gGSPTank.jpg  
Here is an excellent article on feeding your puffer:
http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/puffer/food.html
Check out that website for more info on your puffer.  I think the lesion will heal on it's own, as soon as he stops pacing the glass but if you turn off you skimmer for a week & add Melafix, it will heal faster.  ~PP>

-GSP Floating-   9/4/06
<Justin with you tonight>
I just bought a Green Spotted Puffer.  I have him in a small tank with a Dalmatian molly and an upside-down catfish.  This is a temporary set-up.  I have been making daily water changes and I am trying to keep this as a brackish tank.  
<Ok, but what kind of water was the puffer in when you bought him,  Rapidly converting it to BW from FW can be deadly, and most fish stores keep these puffers in fresh water (FW).>
The puffer was active at the pet store.  He did fine in the bag on the ride home.  When I put him in the tank, he checked out the molly and chased the
catfish.  Now he is floating at the top of the tank and there is no movement.
  When I lightly touch him on the head, he starts moving and swims around for a while.  I watched him again while he is in this floating state.  I see no gills moving, no mouth movement, then the eyes moved.
<Sounds like a bad acclimation, and or something really off in your tank.  Please find out what salinity the puffer was in at the store, and also have your water tested and reply back with both as well as the size of the tank etc.  I cannot really help you that much other than to say keep doing water changes and give it time, it will either live or die, by how stressed it is, and how clean the water is.>
Being new to this fish, I do not know if this is normal behavior or if there is something wrong that needs to be corrected.  I have tried looking through your site, but had not found any similar questions.
~Stacy
<Please answer the questions above and reply back, will be glad to help more as this is NOT normal behavior for a puffer.  very active and aggressive hunter/seekers whom always explore the tank etc.>
<Justin>

GSP question regarding black belly coloration  6/19/06
<Hi Suzie, Pufferpunk here>
A 1 1/2" Green Spotted Pufferfish came to live with us a month ago.
<How fun!>
The 10 gallon, 2 15 watt compact fluorescent bulbs, cycled tank that he lives in was originally freshwater. After research we have acclimated it to a brackish tank (increasing specific gravity by 0.002 over three separate 25% water changes in the last three weeks to 1.006). Original values: 20 Nitrate, 0 Nitrite, 75 GH, 80 kH, 7.8 pH, 80 deg F, 0 Ammonia. Current values since the increased salinity: 20-40 Nitrate (water changes done when 40 to bring down to 20), 0 Nitrite, 300 GH, 120 kH, 7.8 pH, 0 Ammonia. The GSP lives with 1 Black Synodontis catfish and three zebra danios- no current aggression between species. There is one live plant, a few fake plants, a driftwood piece, a fake hidey log for the catfish, an airstone, and gravel in the tank (do you recommend sandy bottoms for GSPs?)
<The live plants will not fair well in BW, especially as you bring the puffer towards marine conditions as it gets older.  By then he will need a 30g tank minimum, as he grows to 6" & likes lots of swimming room.  The catfish will really hate even the amount of salt you have in there now & danios aren't BW fish either.  I recommend a substrate of aragonite or crushed coral, to maintain the pH around a steady 8.>
The GSP eats well (ghost shrimp, mussels, and bloodworms- soon young snails) and rests after a meal but is otherwise active and curious. He does get the "light area" on his "forehead" that I have read on this site to be attributed with a "happy"/non-stressed pufferfish. The other fish do not have any new coloration or exhibit any unusual behavior. I am concerned because the sides of his belly turn dark black during the day. These black areas have tiny black spots encroaching on his white belly.  It is primarily complete areas that are black, not just spotty. They go from under his chin to his tail but do not cover his belly entirely. I have read about stress lines, black chin, black spot disease (which I don't believe it is), and nitrate toxicity. He doesn't act stressed, as he is inquisitive and doesn't swim up and down the glass. He eats well and he interacts well with other fish (so far...  I understand their aggressive nature). I initially believed that this black area did not get lighter, but in the past couple of days I have noticed that once lights are out in the tank his belly
appears entirely white, including on sides.  In other words, the black disappears. Sometimes the belly sides are light grey at this time. How is this coloration change related to night? Is the black coloration from him blending in with the black tank lid? Is he more stressed during the day? If so, from what? Should I be concerned about this coloration? Should I change anything about the current water parameters or water changes?  I have looked on many sites for information regarding this and the care of GSPs but I respect your opinion and hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for your insight!!!
<You're puffer sounds perfectly healthy.  Many change colors often.  As long as it goes back to white at night (even some healthy puffers appear black all the time), the water parameters are good, it's swimming & eating, I wouldn't worry.  Check out this article on them at WWM: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/gspsart.htm  & other articles in the Library at www.thepufferforum.com.  Feel free to post there too!  ~PP>
Suzie

Green Spotted Puffers in Trouble - 3/6/2006
I currently have two Leopard Puffer fish.
<<I am assuming you mean Tetraodon nigroviridis; green spotted puffer.  Go to www.pufferlist.com to verify.  If so, it is a high-end brackish to SW fish at maturity, and needs at least 30-gallons per fish.  It is often sold as freshwater.>>
One of them I purchased at Petco in the beginning of January. It was the happiest fish I have ever seen; swimming rapidly and so excited to see me to feed him his dried shrimp.
<<This diet must be far more varied.  How did you cycle your tank?>>
Then about a couple weeks ago, he started turning a dark color and became sluggish and not eating well. I didn't change any of my routines. I feed him the same, change the water frequently, etc. I asked a Petco employee and he said I needed a bubbler.
<<Likely is a water quality issue, not dissolved oxygen problem.  What are your water parameters (nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, pH)?>>
I purchased one and started using it in his tank and my Puffer was thrilled; swimming in and out of the bubbles and started eating like he used to and his color came back. But after a day of that, he went back to his sluggish self and dark color and not eating. What do you think his problem is? I've told all of this to the people who work in the fish dept. at Petco and they weren't exactly helpful besides telling me about the bubbler.
Secondly, I thought maybe my Puffer was lonely, so that’s when I purchased another one.
<<Puffers do not get lonely.>>
When I put the new one in with the other, my Puffer was thrilled and turned back to his bright color. Then, after about 10 minutes, my Puffer went back to being lazy, etc. and the new one kept going to the surface, gulping water or something, and then staying afloat at the top.
<<There is definitely something wrong with your water.>>
He did this several times and it worried me. He has been swimming around but he's starting to act like my other one by lying at the bottom. Do you think there is something wrong with the water?
<<Yes>>
I don't understand what is happening to them. Help?!?
-Melanie
<<Start by reading here: http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/puffer/introtogsp.html, and checking the levels of toxins in your water.  Talk to you soon. Lisa.>>

Green Spotted Puffer Hanging Out  2/23/06
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have a green spotted puffer. He lays around at the bottom of the tank a lot until he sees me & then he will start swimming again. Yesterday it looked like his spots were disappearing (fading).  When I fed him his shrimp he couldn't find it.  He was pecking at everything, when usually he has no problems finding it.  I'm not sure of the salt content.  I've added 2 tablespoons of marine salt.  It's a 10 gallon tank with a couple of fake plants and a big rock decor in the middle.  The temp stays at around 80F. The store where I bought the fish has tested the water for me twice and both times its been fine. I thought he might have had flukes so I treated for that. Hopefully you can help, if not thanks anyway.
<A 10g tank, won't hold your puffer for long.  They grow to 6" & will eventually require at least a 30g minimum sized tank.  
See: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/gspsart.htm.  Why did you think it had gill flukes?  Puffers are very sensitive to meds.  You should never treat a fish for something without a positive diagnosis.  The fading spots & laying around could mean he's resting/sleeping.  Everything you need to know about him is in the article I linked you to.  In the future, please use proper punctuation & capitalization in your letter.  Thanks, ~PP>

Depressed Puffer  1/26/05
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have two green spotted puffers and two other puffers all around 1.5 inches. I bought the two green spotted puffers about one month ago and the other two about two weeks ago. All of the puffers are fine but one of the green spotted puffers has turned a little gray and wont swim as much. I checked the water and it's fine.
<What exactly does "fine" mean?  Ammonia & nitrites should be 0, nitrates <20, pH around a steady 8.  What are they eating?  Any other tank mates?>
These puffers are in a 55 gallon aquarium with brackish water.
<Again, "brackish" can also be kind of vague.  What's the SG?  Are you using marine salt?  How are you adding it to your tank?  Premixed?  Are you aware that these puffers, as 6" adults, will need at least 30g ea (that's a 120g minimum for all 4) & marine conditions as adults?>
What should I do?
<Please answer all my questions so I can better help you.  Also read: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/gspsart.htm  ~PP>

Leopard puffer question  12/26/05
I got a leopard puffer and two upside-down catfish; the puffer was nipping at the catfish and the LFS gave us a cichlid to curb his temper. The problem is that the cichlid rules the tank now and the puffer seems to be more black and moody than when we got him. We have them in a three gallon tank. How retarded are we?  <Very!  This fish alone needs at least 30g to himself!> How can we liven up our tank and have harmonious fish?<You need to get two new tanks or trade in some fish.  Your leopard puffer is a brackish to marine fish that needs salt!  The others are all freshwater and are not compatible with your puff.  Now, you also have WAY too much fish in 3 gallons, not a single one of those fish are compatible with such a small tank.  I recommend returning everyone to the LFS and purchasing a couple dwarf frogs and a Betta if you insist on that size tank.  Otherwise you will need to purchase a new 30-55g for the puffer and it will need to be brackish and another 30-55g for the others and it will need to be freshwater.> Thank you, Jason  <You're welcome and good luck!  ~Heather AKA LinearChaos)

"Spotted" Puffer Questions  10/3/05
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have a question for you that no one else has been able to answer. My two spotted puffers have begun to lie on the bottom of the tank, or in plants or decorations with their tails wrapped around their body. However, after awhile they get up and swim around for awhile. Is this a sign of illness or is this typical of spotted puffers? Thanks So Much!!   Holly
<If your water parameters are good (ammonia & nitrIte 0, nitrAte <20, pH around a steady 8, SG 1.010-1.015) & they are eating well, then they may just be sleeping.
Check out: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/gspsart.htm
and www.thepufferforum,org.  ~PP>

GSPs Turning Black  8-19-05
Hello Mr. Fenner;
<Pufferpunk here>
I read all info on the site for Green Spotted Puffers. I have been converting them to brackish according to your recommended article's specifications.
I have noticed that since the day I began to add Instant Ocean that they are turning black on their bellies, rubbing (flashing) against the rocks like they would with a parasite and a few are getting sunken bellies.
<Are they eating?  It is common for a wild-caught fish that have been in captivity for months, to suddenly show the effects of internal parasites.  Probably not caused by the addition of marine salt.>
I've had them for a few months in freshwater with 1Tbs per 3gal of regular Sodium Chloride. They flourished. Now, after starting to convert to brackish water, they are acting thusly. I've lost two already. The SG is still so low I can't even obtain a reading on my hydrometer yet; so I'm not hastily converting - I don't think anyway. My water here is naturally close to a  PH = 6.4, KH approx= 36ppm. GH approx= 108ppm. They were in this relatively acidic freshwater environment and doing fine. They came from freshwater also, btw.
Now I have them up to PH= 7.8, and am concerned that this change been too much. Or that these puffers were raised in Fresh and thus maybe taking them into Brackish conditions is simply not worth it. I often wonder if these "parameters" for certain species really apply when they are raised in opposing conditions and are not used to (or have never actually experienced) their natural water conditions.
<A jump from 6.4-7.8 is a huge one!  This could very well be stressing out your fish.  How much salt have you added?  What else have you done to raise the pH?  Although a pH of 8 is recommended, it should be raised very slowly & kept STEADY. What are your other water parameters (ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte)?  What kind of hydrometer are you using?  Can you have the SG tested at your LFS (preferably with a refractometer)?  All GSPs start out in FW, but should be slowly converted to BW & then high-end BW, or even SW as adults.>
I could use some advice quick. In the meantime I've decided to simply remove about 25% of the water and replace with fresh.
Any help greatly needed and appreciated.
Scott K
<Let me know how they are doing.  ~PP>

Puffer is a Killer!  6/14/05
Hello,
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
My name is Nichole, and I recently purchased a puffer fish from a very stupid store. I know, I should have researched them a bit before just buying him, I know it's all my fault but the fact remains that they really shouldn't tell you that he's freshwater and nicely tempered when he's brackish water (I think?) and quite um...well let's just say murderous.
<unfortunately, a common occurrence with these fishes.>
Now that he's the only one left in the tank (sorry, Molly, R.I.P. Slim and Tiger, all in one night!)
<Not surprised there either.>
I converted to brackish because I think he's a green puff and I think that's what they need. He seems quite happy most of the time but when I feed him, his belly turns grey. I read that that's a
sign of stress, but it only happens when he's eating. I feed him frozen cubes of brine shrimp.  Should I be thawing them or something?
<Yes, you should never throw in frozen food to your fish.  In addition to their body temp dropping from eating frozen food, there is a lot of "juice" that you don't want to add to your tank.  Always rinse frozen foods thoroughly, in a brine shrimp net.  Brine shrimp though, is not a nutritious food to feed to your fish (mostly water).  Read this: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/gspsart.htm  There is a link there to a great puffer forum you can go to also.>
His belly is all snowy white the rest of the day, and usually turns white again before he even finishes eating. He never did that before I went brackish and it would be really sad if my one remaining fish died. Any help that you feel like giving would be appreciated, cuz I keep getting in trouble at work for looking up my fish on the internet. You know, instead of working...  Please help save Shredder the Puff.
<What a great name (considering his rep with you already)!  I wouldn't be too concerned about it temporarily turning dark--mine do the same when they eat.  It's when they are dark & sulking all the time (& not eating) that it may be a sign of trouble.>
Thanks for reading, anyways. --Nich
<Of course!  Good luck with your "killer"!  ~PP>

Puffers
Hi, I have 5 Green Spotted Puffers, 2 1/2" long.
and 1 Figure 8 Puffer, 3/4"
How long do these kinds of Puffer live?
<Years if/when kept under properly maintained conditions>
and how big can they get?
<Please see the coverage on WWM: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwpuffers.htm and the FAQs files beyond>
I have them in a 77gal.
I also read that they should be in 6.5 -7.0 Ph. water, Is that right?
<Mmm, no... should be higher... see the brackish set-up, maintenance sections on WWM>
I have kept mine in Brackish water at 81*F Ph: 8.0 for 2 years and they're doing great.
Please e-mail me back, Thanks.
<Be chatting. Bob Fenner>

A question about my puffer
<<JasonC here, giving Bob time to pack for his dive trip.>>
Hi! I have a problem with my puffer and was hoping you could offer some
advice I have a green spotted puffer who is running himself to death we are watching our poor friend slowly kill himself. He is in a 20 gallon tank, salt level is 1.010 ph 8.2 temp 78-80 degrees, two filters one of them a Biowheel. Abe's behavior started when he began to get adult markings, he goes in an almost constant routine of up and down in the rear corner of the tank, hides when approached, and is now refusing to eat he will go up to the food and check it out and then turns away sometimes he does manage a few bites before retreating back to the corner. We offer a large variety of food: fresh crab, ghost shrimp are plentiful, frozen brine shrimp and blood worms. His tank companions consist of (ghost shrimp) two bumblebee gobies. We have done water changes, small scenery changes (which he used to love) and nothing seems to snap him out of the behavior. Before the markings started to change he would happily gobble down anything offered and would hunt down ghost shrimp simply for the joy of the hunt and seemed rather proud of showing of his round belly. now he is looking like a refugee of Wal-mart and I am afraid he isn't going to be a part of our family much longer. 
Are there any suggestions you could offer to help my little Abe out? 
Thanks in advance Cindy Ivie
<<Gosh, it would seem that you are doing all the right things, and while I don't keep any brackish puffers myself, I do know that ANY ghost shrimp around my Porcupine Puffer would just... well, they wouldn't be ghost shrimp anymore. A couple of things come to mind - one is that some new, biological imperative or hormonal change have washed over your puffer as it has come of age - and these things work themselves out most of the time. Doesn't mean the puffer won't scare you a bit on the way, but time will tell. The other thing I would look for is perhaps other water issues that you didn't mentioned here - how are your Nitrates? How often are you changing the water? Seems like you ran the list of puffer-favorite-foods - is there a food your puffer loves that you haven't tried - if so, try it now. Best of luck, J -- >>

Puffer's a Chameleon!  3/21/04
OK, thanks. When I'd raised the salinity it went to 1.004, so I removed some and started at 1.003. I will raise it to 1.004/1.005 next week.
<Sounds like a plan!>
My puffer seems a little weirded out, normal? But, the thing is, he has been changing colors like crazy! My girlfriend was like, "he is all whitish, he doesn't look too good, what's up?!" so I go over, and he comes up to me and before me eyes he changes back to his yellowish with spots?!?!?!
I saw him, he had almost no spots and was an off white color, white, but more an eggshell or so, different than the white of his belly. But when he saw me and came over, he straight changed in front of my eyes!
Never seen that before! What's up with that?!
<It's totally normal for a puffer to change colors & spots.  They are masters at disguise & will try to blend in w/their surroundings.  Do you have light-colored gravel?  That may make them paler.  Also puffers are extremely sensitive & moody, which also shows in their coloration.  Don't worry, unless it's tummy stays black all the time & they stop eating.  ~PP>

Puffer Doing Great!  3/22/04
No he seems normal, just the crazy color change. He may be a little lazy because I left for the weekend and of 3 ghost shrimp, one ended up having babies, so I'm still pulling those suckers out. I only feed GSP 4 or 5 times a week, he gets lazy otherwise.
So the color change is normal? Awesome. And yeah, I read that if their belly starts to turn dark, not good.... his/hers/its is pure white... probably due to my 3 a week emails since I got it,... Thanks PP....  
<No problem, that's what I'm here for--puffers are my passion!  ~PP>

Feeder fish became friends with predator?
I have had my brackish tank, home to my two green-spotted puffers, for a little over a year.  Until three months ago, my puffers were the only occupants.  I threw a guppies in the tank as a little treat and to my surprise, the guppy was there days later.  Not only has that guppy survived in brackish water surrounded by predators, there are now a total of four baby guppies living in this tank.  The first of the young appeared about four or five weeks ago and has grown considerably.  The other three have appeared in the last three days.  I introduced a new puffer to the tank yesterday and figured it would probably make a meal out of my unusual little friends, but he doesn't show any interest.  I do not understand.  Is this normal or as bizarre as it seems?
<Does seem odd, but this is not unprecedented. Fishes to varying degrees are what humans label as "autistic", and if the "food" was in the tank ahead of the predator... it/they might well not be recognized as food items... Consider as an example the sacred cows of Hindu India... Bob Fenner>

Green Spotted Puffer 4/16/05
<Hi, Pufferpunk here. For future reference, please try searching our site & FAQs for answers before coming here. Not that we don't want to help, it's just that the answers are there, if you look. Also, please use proper capitalization & punctuation, as I have to correct all of that, before it can be posted into our FAQs, thanks.>
I have a 55 gallon and I purchased a green spotted puffer last week. I have him with a cichlid and other tropical fish. For some reason no one harms him. Anyway my question is, why did his color go away? He looked yellow/green with spots now he looks brown w/spots. The guy told me to add A+ aquarium salt. Also to the Texas cichlid his color became brown. What's wrong?
Please help!
<Start out by reading: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/gspsart.htm. If you have more questions after that, you can write back & I'll be happy to answer them. ~PP> 

New GSP Owner 3/19/05
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have read lots of things on the web about GSPs and the set up of their tanks. I have two in separate tanks, 1 - 10 gal & 1 - 20 gal. and I just love them. I have been all over your website and have gained lots of information. I thank you. I know have a better idea of how to control the levels in the tank and keep my little guys happy. My question is just how big will they grow? I have seen 3" to 6". Does this depend on the size of the tank? Or do they have a max growth? My last question is how long do they usually live? 
<Their growth & lifespan will be greatly reduced in a smaller tank. They grow to 6" & live into their teens, with the proper housing & care. It looks like you must have missed the most important info we have on these puffers: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/gspsart.htm  ~PP> 

Spotted puffer
Hi I have a question about Pufferfish. I bought a spotted puffer about 2 months ago and he acts and looks really healthy. The other day I noticed something strange , he turned a different shade. He was laying near an ornament I have and was really dark. When I looked in the tank he came swimming over to me like always and his color went back to his normal shade. A friend of mine has a spotted and a figure 8 and he said he noticed the same thing only one of his turns lighter. Is this normal? 
<Yes, normal>
Do they do this for camouflage? Or is it a mood thing?
<Both as far as I'm concerned. Bob Fenner>

Green Puffer 
Hi Bob! 
My husband and I have 4 Green Puffers. Two adults, and 2 babies. One of the adult puffers fades really bad in color. Going from his beautiful bright green, to a pale green to where you can barely see his black spots, and then back to his beautiful green again. Is this a sign of stress? He isn't acting any different and is eating like the fat boy he is. I am hoping that you have the answer! 
Thanks! 
Stephanie and Doug
<Thanks for writing. Likely there is nothing wrong with the "flashing" adult puffer. These fish do shift brightness and markings with their moods... this one is likely just communicating with its kin. Do take a read over the freshwater puffer section and FAQs on the www.wetwebmedia.com site for more input on their care. Bob Fenner>

Puffer fish behavior
Hi, my name is Caroline, and I just bought a green spotted puffer fish, and I have been searching the web trying to find information on their antics, to see what is normal and not. My fish bobs up and down along the corner of his tank, and I think it is a little odd. It would be greatly appreciated if you could tell me if this is normal or not. I just got him yesterday, so it might be adjustment, I would just like to make sure. Thanks in advance for your reply, Caroline
<Yes, Caroline, these small puffers do go up and down the sides of their aquariums... perhaps in response to their own reflection... and will "sit on the bottom" as well... all normal/natural behavior. You might find more on these fishes by using the "Google Search Tool" on the bottom of the homepage, here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/
Insert the word freshwater (or) brackish puffer. Bob Fenner>