My Puffer has gone insane

[coffeejunkie33]

Recently he has been bitting the glass on the tank. Loud enough to where I can hear it. It's almost like he's seeing his reflection and attacking himself. This I can't figure out and I have never seen this type of behavior. My Niger is dam near doing the same thing. I can't explain this, nothing has changed water wise or lighting or feeding. The puffer is eating but not nearly as much as he normally would & the trigger is still good. Growth Spurt maybe? I thought something might of been wrong w/my water or what ever. But everything checks out and is in perfect condition in this established tank.
Also I have seen him blow himself up twice today, once just a second ago! No attacks nothing but he's still attacking the glass..Wow this is odd...!

 

[sean48183]

Did you just scrape algae off the glass? My fish do this for a couple days after I scrape glass. Normal stuff. Do you have any other fish in the tank? Are they doing the same thing?

 

[small triggers]

is he chewing on the live rock to wear down his teeth like normal? same with the trigger? or have they turned it to the glass instead?

 

[jayson417]

This is normal, Puffers have so much personality. Mine chases his reflection in the glass, bites the rocks and swims around the powerhead all the time for hours.
I think your fine.

 

[coffeejunkie33]

Originally Posted by sean48183
http:///forum/post/3179722
Did you just scrape algae off the glass? My fish do this for a couple days after I scrape glass. Normal stuff. Do you have any other fish in the tank? Are they doing the same thing?
I did just clean the tank yesterday. But he's never gone crazy like this before. My Niger trigger keeps going to the same spot checking himself out and scaring himself back into his hole. Odd behavior on both parts really. My puffer hasn't eaten in two days no matter what food I toss in. The trigger is still eating normally. Re-checked all water levels today and everything checks out good. No ich, 0 nitrites, about 10 Nitrate lvl so that's decently low, 0 Ammonia

 

[coffeejunkie33]

Originally Posted by sean48183
http:///forum/post/3179722
Did you just scrape algae off the glass? My fish do this for a couple days after I scrape glass. Normal stuff. Do you have any other fish in the tank? Are they doing the same thing?
Yeah, I've got a Niger Trigger in there. He's just checking himself out and scaring himself back into his hole. I did just clean the tank. I've never seen him go at the glass so harshly before. He's not interested in any food just with what's on the other side of the glass or his own reflection. Crazy fish!

 

[coffeejunkie33]

Originally Posted by Jayson417
http:///forum/post/3179942
This is normal, Puffers have so much personality. Mine chases his reflection in the glass, bites the rocks and swims around the powerhead all the time for hours.
I think your fine.
I have seen him do this before just never so harshly. They do have a lot of personality much like a dog but in water. The only thing that concerns me now is he's not eating. It's been two days now and he's still attacking the glass.

 

[jayson417]

Originally Posted by coffeejunkie33
http:///forum/post/3179945
I have seen him do this before just never so harshly. They do have a lot of personality much like a dog but in water. The only thing that concerns me now is he's not eating. It's been two days now and he's still attacking the glass.
What is his diet like? I change it up between Krill"Dried" Mysis and Brine. and a snack of Squid and Mussel Bites.
Does he have any skin discoloration or spots? How's his breathing?

 

[drtash]

My puffer ate my electrical cords to my korilias and heaters.....I have now learned after getting shocked often.

 

[coffeejunkie33]

Originally Posted by drtash
http:///forum/post/3180158
My puffer ate my electrical cords to my korilias and heaters.....I have now learned after getting shocked often.
LOL sorry to hear he ate your electrical cords! Did he live through it? I have no heater in the tank, it really doesn't need it. It stays right around 80 + or - a few degrees on a daily basis.

 

[coffeejunkie33]

Originally Posted by Jayson417
http:///forum/post/3179949
What is his diet like? I change it up between Krill"Dried" Mysis and Brine. and a snack of Squid and Mussel Bites.
Does he have any skin discoloration or spots? How's his breathing?
Yeah his color is good and I feed him a variety of things. Krill, scallops, mussels, and brine. He wont even touch the Krill right now, usually he'd bite my finger off just to get it now he swims right by it or any other food. All he's doing is bitting glass and blowing himself up. As for the breathing he looks okay, he's still very active swimming around trying to attack the glass. My G lvl is in between 1.022 & 1.023 so oxygen lvl in the water should be good at those lvls.

 

[coffeejunkie33]

Originally Posted by Jayson417
http:///forum/post/3179949
What is his diet like? I change it up between Krill"Dried" Mysis and Brine. and a snack of Squid and Mussel Bites.
Does he have any skin discoloration or spots? How's his breathing?
Well, so far I've been able to get him to eat the fresh alaskan snow crab and a lil shrimp, but at least he's eating. Im dam near having to feed him by hand other wise it just floats right on by and he don't care. Im just glad I've gotten him to eat.

 

[sean48183]

At least he's eating that's a good sign but something has him stressed out. FOr a puffer to not eat something is wrong. I didn't see this mentioned but you may have covered it. What's your ph?

 

[coffeejunkie33]

Originally Posted by sean48183
http:///forum/post/3182212
At least he's eating that's a good sign but something has him stressed out. FOr a puffer to not eat something is wrong. I didn't see this mentioned but you may have covered it. What's your ph?
My Ph is in between 8.2 & 8.4 so not to bad, Nitrates is .10ppm, Nitrites are a little high for some reason between .0 & .25 and tank cycled more than 5mo. ago I did do a water change yesterday so that might be why thats up, Ammonia is 0. But the puffer is still eating, I noticed last night he's got a new lump on the left side of his jaw, so Im wondering if he broke something attacking the glass. Not sure!

 

[mermaidgrrl13]

Is it possible to get a Full tank shot? I assume you are netting out all that food you are trying to get him to eat, that is not being consumed, otherwise this could account for the high Trites. How big are these fish? Im sure you know that an 80 gallon cannot sustain these three fish long term. Are you having any problems with algea or cyano at the moment? Sounds like it may be a combination of things. Sounds like things started happening after that water change. Also you say you dont run a heater. Are you positive your water is consistantly at a steady temp? personally I wouldnt risk not running a heater in an 80 gallon. What other changes have you made In the tank..no matter how small? And are you fish still showint signs of distress? how is the puffers mouth sore? has it gotten worse, stayed the same? Im sorry hes not feeling good.

 

[srfisher17]

Puffers need to chew, to keep their teeth from overgrowing. Get a piece of cuttlebone,( the kind for birds, no vitamins) and wedge it in the tank somewhere. Most puffers and lots of triggers will love it and its a natural marine product.

 

[coffeejunkie33]

Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/3182437
Puffers need to chew, to keep their teeth from overgrowing. Get a piece of cuttlebone,( the kind for birds, no vitamins) and wedge it in the tank somewhere. Most puffers and lots of triggers will love it and its a natural marine product.
I'll have to go to the pet store and pick up that cuttlebone if they sell it here. I've never heard of it but it's worth a shot. I've been feeding him crab cause Im afraid he might of broke his little jaw, he's got a huge lump on his lower left. I've been striking out on shrimp w/shell around here. So I'm just figuring out new food.