Why is my puffer getting dark?

[old salt]

I've got a striped puffer about 5-6 inch long in my 90 gal tank with a tusk. I noticed the last couple days that he seems to be getting darker, kinda blotchy like... Should I be worried? he is eating well, but seemed to be breathing hard a few minutes ago. I have plenty of water movement and a lot of surface agitation...

 

[old salt]

Here are a couple of pics of him... he also has a kind of shiny spot above his eye that you can see... another just like it near his tail... look kinda like abrasions maybe?

 

[guppie]

I know my striped dog face gets darker when he is sleeping or resting, as for the abrasions I know mine has tryed to fit somewhere he could not and ended up with an abrasions of his own. hope this helps. Good Luck

 

[pufferlover]

The pics didn't happen but from your description I believe guppie is right. My Puffers will appear darker some times and I have never found it a problem. Also, they do tend to be a bit clumsy and do get abrasions from time to time and as they get bigger they get more clumsey it seems. So I would not worry too much at this point.

 

[old salt]

Weird, the pics show up on my screen.... musta done it wrong... both of my fish came down with ich... I put the puffer in my qt and he immediately lightened up... My main tank has a black background, maybe he is trying to blend in? My qt is small so thank god my lfs is cool.. he isolated a tank and is going to treat and hold my tusk for 4 weeks... empty 90 gal for awhile...

 

[pufferlover]

You have learned the lesson I preach here get to know your lfs and let them think you spend all your money with them and they will go out of the way for you in time of need. Also, I have found that Puffers can be very Ick prone (every one of mine has had it at least once) and yet most people think they are bulletproof (they aren't). The best thing with the larger Puffs tho is their fins show the spots real quick and very distinctly when they get sick so you know what you have fast. Hope all goes well for you.