New FW Puffer

[rae]

So I got a FW puffer in my 5 gallon about 3 days ago. I was reading some threads about how puffers curl up and sleep. I have noticed that mine doesn't seem to do that. He just kind of swims up and down the glass at night and in the morning. I tested my water and it is all in the safe range. Also, he doesnt really come the front of the tank, he just kind of hangs out in the back. Is this normal? Is he still maybe stressed and getting comfortable and adjusting to his new surroundings? How long does it take for puffers to really become accustomed to your presence? (My mollies took like a day, or puffers just might be a little more shy?)

 

[TorPeteO]

What kind of decorations have you got in the tank? Often times when puffers swim up and down the glass it is due to boredom. If there aren't enough spaces to swim around and explore, you'll find them doing things like you've described.

I've also heard that it can take days for a puffer to get accustomed to its new home, and I'm sure it would take longer than that to get accustomed to its new owner.

Maybe it just sleeps when you sleep...unless you watch it 24/7.

 

[Pufferpack]

What species of puffer do you have. My South American puffers - Colomesus asellus hunt all night while my Dwarves - Tetraodon travancoricus sleep all night.

 

[Lithril]

PP do you notice with your SAs that when the lights go out they swim on a slant? Quite amusing to watch

 

[GP]

First, what kind of puffer is it. Water parameters are really not necessary. Also, not all puffers curl up when they sleep, same thing as all humans don't sleep in the same position. We need to know the tank size, I'm guessing it's overstocked already...

 

[Pufferpack]

PP do you notice with your SAs that when the lights go out they swim on a slant?

...I never noticed, I'lll have to watch for that tonight.

 

[LadyMinion]

I'm guessing it's overstocked already...

That's a rather rude assumption. Why don't you try being helpful, instead of criticising all the time. It was not so long ago you were a newbie too remember.

 

[Pufferpack]

We need to know the tank size, I'm guessing it's overstocked already...

The first sentence in the posting stated that the FW puffer was in a 5 gal tank. Why on earth would you assume it was overstocked?

 

[Daveo]

So I got a FW puffer in my 5 gallon about 3 days ago. I was reading some threads about how puffers curl up and sleep. I have noticed that mine doesn't seem to do that. He just kind of swims up and down the glass at night and in the morning. I tested my water and it is all in the safe range. Also, he doesnt really come the front of the tank, he just kind of hangs out in the back. Is this normal? Is he still maybe stressed and getting comfortable and adjusting to his new surroundings? How long does it take for puffers to really become accustomed to your presence? (My mollies took like a day, or puffers just might be a little more shy?)

Your puffer is fine All fish are differant from each other even if they are the same fish as each other(they have a mind of their own yah know).


Daveo

 

[rae]

The tank that he is in is as 5 gallon tank as I stated. He is in there all by himself. I have three plants and two medium sized clay pots in the aquarium. Today he seems a lot more sociable. He was "playing" in the filter current when I got home. I think I was maybe just stressing more about his well-being than necessary. Thank you for understanding that I am a newbie to this. Just about the boredom thing, maybe he could use a friend? But is it really necessary? I really would just prefer to have one, but if its better for them, then Ill get him a pal!?!?

 

[SirMinion]

PP do you notice with your SAs that when the lights go out they swim on a slant?

Most fish do this.
It's because it's a fishes instinct to swim with it's dorsal to the light, so when the light in the tank goes out, and the only light is from the room the tank is in, they try to swim with their dorsals to the front of the tank.

It's very noticable in goldfish.

 

[GP]

Isn't he saying he has mollies (plural) with a puffer in there? If it's not a dwarf puffer then isn't that overstocked??

edit* I wasn't trying to be rude, I was just making an educated guess based on the information given... Hypothesis.

 

[Pufferpack]

Ah, I took it to be a comparison of how long it took the Mollies to adapt to their tank. I guess it is all in how you read the post ...shows what happens when we assume things, leaves too much to interpretation, which is a good reason why we should give as much info as possible when asking questions

 

[subopposite]

If you have a 5 gallon tank, your puffer will most likely not want another puffer in there. That would probably be a bad idea (maybe an exception for dwarf puffers, but it won't be recommended by me).
Do you know what kind of puffer you have? If you can find this out for us, we can make sure that it is a freshwater or brakish water puffer. In my opinion, a dwarf puffer can survive in a 5 gallon, but not any other type of puffer.
Only problem with small tanks is that the water parameters change very quickly since there is less water. This means that the water can become dirty quicker, ph changes and so forth. And so you know Rae, water parameters are always important. Some people just like to give advice to give advice. I wish they wouldn't. It throws people off and having a fishtank means that there is a life in there. Glad you made it to this forum Rae.
If you can Rae, find out what type of puffer it is that you bought, or post us a picture of it. Some fish stores don't even know what they are selling. This will help all of us out very much.
Lastly, 5 gallons is a pretty small tank so like others have said, your fish swimming up and down the glass is a pretty good indication of him being bored or wanting to explore more area.

 

[Lithril]

Most fish do this.
It's because it's a fishes instinct to swim with it's dorsal to the light, so when the light in the tank goes out, and the only light is from the room the tank is in, they try to swim with their dorsals to the front of the tank.

It's very noticable in goldfish.

Ah cheers, always wondered, it freaked me out the first time I saw it, quite amusing now