My 1st Puffer!

[geopod]

correct me if I am wrong but the puffer fish ussually puffs when stressed.I thought this was a bad thing to do if they keep puffing that they can die.Yes...No...??

george

[bulletsworld]

Originally Posted by geopod

correct me if I am wrong but the puffer fish ussually puffs when stressed.I thought this was a bad thing to do if they keep puffing that they can die.Yes...No...?? george

Yes, it is extremely stressful on the fish, hence the PUFF reaction. But all reasons I gave above are why "NO NETS PLEASE" with these creature and "DON'T EXPOSE THEM TO AIR" are good tips. Any encounter I have had with puffers they only puffed when frightened or scared by netting or capture. Again why I mentioned tips above to prevent the stress. I have never heard of a puffer dying from puffing up. Although if they were exposed to air, air can get trapped, making it hard for them to puff down, causing serious buoyancy problems then resulting in death. Regardless it would be very mean to try to make your puffer frightened just so you could see it puff. I was surprised when it happened to me.

Recap of tips... "DON'T EXPOSE PUFFERS TO AIR" & "NO NETS PLEASE"

I actually purchased a porcupine puffer on the weekend...adorable little guy. I asked the LFS if they can NOT use a net but a container to catch him and NOT to expose him to ANY air. The guy looked at me like I was crazy at first but did it. It took the guy little time to catch the porcupine puffer but by coaching it with a net into to the container. Once the puffer was in the bag it didn't freak out like it would have if it was netted & exposed to air. It didn't try to bite the bag to get out. Instead the travel was darkened to ease stress & before the new puffy new it, he was acclimated and in his new home.


I hope this info helps when purchasing & catching your puffy.

[OCDP]

I think you could very well use your two important pieces of advice to ANY fish, and not just puffers. The net rule at least

[bulletsworld]

Originally Posted by OCDP

I think you could very well use your two important pieces of advice to ANY fish, and not just puffers. The net rule at least

YEsss! EXACTLY! I try to preach "NO NETS" if all possible. I just dont want to sound to pushy. Hehe But for puffers I think "NO NETS", "NO AIR", its a MUST. Since puffers have the ability to inflate their stomachs which is not limited to water, when raised into the air, you run the risk of the puffer inflating himself with a stomach full of air. Which is not a good thing, many puffer have difficulties expelling trapped air.

I HATE nets though. Sometimes you just gotta use a net, but I just transfer the fish from the net to the container under water. Then I lift them up with water in the container. That way they dont get any air. I really do find it helps the fish in transfer. Less panic and stress.

Besides...I look at it this way on the topic of exposing fish to air... What if someone chased you & then pushed you under water, you would panic & wouldn't be able to breath. So I consider this the same for the fish being lifted into the exposed air. They can't breath! NOoOOo! Poor fishy!

[Sushiman]

Originally Posted by geopod

correct me if I am wrong but the puffer fish ussually puffs when stressed.I thought this was a bad thing to do if they keep puffing that they can die.Yes...No...??

george

Like most blanket statements or rules you hear there is more to it. Yes, the "puffing up" action is a defense mechanism possesed by these fish, however many simply puff up briefly & continue on their merry way. The trick as aquarists is to carefully observe you fish's behavior to determine if there are stresssors that require your attention or are these simply benign behaviors. If the puffer in question is spending a prolonged period of time inflated, there is something going on & requires your intervention for sure. Puffers are intelligent & extremely inquisitive fish which is what makes them so much fun to own.

[Stab_Master_Arson]

Speaking of nets. I netted my bi-colour angelfish and it got caught in the mesh. It's teeth got caught on one on the holes and it appeared to have spikes on its gills that were also caught. It took me some time but I got him unhooked. He died about a week later from starvation. I think I may have damaged his mouth and he was unable or unwilling to eat.

[rudy]

I agree about not letting your puffer take in air.

Read this thread about what happened to my Fahaka.
http://www.cichlidforums.com/showthr...ghlight=fahaka

[bubblepuffer]

Dog face easily get their buck tooth overgrowth.. then U need some dentistry work for that poor fish. Always feed them some freshwater snails or some shellfish thing so they can work on their buck tooth...