New dogface. Beer belly?

[ice cream jones]

So I picked up a new dogface yesterday. I made sure it was eating fine at the lfs and all. I put him in his new home and he continues to eat well, maybe too well? This morning he's got a big saggy stomach. It even looks kinda lumpy. I fed him about 3 small krill and half of a frozen silverside yesterday. Is this normal? Is it pregnate? Did it have a snail feast last night? I did a roll call this morning, everyone is still there and no one seems to mind the dogface(named dee oh gee) at all. He seems very comfortable for only being in for one day. He swims up to everyone individually and looks as though he's introducing itself, and swims off to do updowns in the front corner or the tank.

[ice cream jones]

^

[ice cream jones]

So this morning I turn on the lights and it's not very active at all... It's got a bleach white spot on top of it's nose about 1/4" round, and it's the last 1/2" or so incluing it's tail is also bleach white. What the hell?

[nebraskareef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14478704#post14478704 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ice cream jones
So this morning I turn on the lights and it's not very active at all... It's got a bleach white spot on top of it's nose about 1/4" round, and it's the last 1/2" or so incluing it's tail is also bleach white. What the hell?

You just woke it up. Many fish have subdued, or light colors when sleeping. I wouldn't worry about it yet.

[ice cream jones]

Okay youre right. I wasnt aware that DF puffers got lighter at night too. Ive seen tangs do it, but they have more of the splotchy kinda spots. This was about half the fish, bleach white. Hes swimming laps, eating, normal color again! Thanks!

Still dont know about that belly though. Anyone have any input? It seems smaller today, is it just from overeating? I guess i'll know if all of my snails end up missing... lol

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Well I can't speak from experience with a dogface, but my toby puffer gets that when it overeats. His belly becomes very lumpy and looks kinda.... icky. It usually clears up after a good poop day.

[ice cream jones]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14480485#post14480485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dante_JoseCuerv
It usually clears up after a good poop day.

Oh great. Better prep the skimmer lol

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Well I can't speak from experience with a dogface, but my toby puffer gets that when it overeats. His belly becomes very lumpy and looks kinda.... icky. It usually clears up after a good poop day.

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Wow... that's a weird double post. Oops?

Also, if anything just cut down on the feeding a bit. Puffers are notorious pigs, my toby and my cowfish on their own probably make up around 80% of my bioload.

[ice cream jones]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14480524#post14480524 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dante_JoseCuerv
Wow... that's a weird double post. Oops?

Also, if anything just cut down on the feeding a bit. Puffers are notorious pigs, my toby and my cowfish on their own probably make up around 80% of my bioload.

I just went through your sig, i'm really glad you responded! Looks like your setup is a lot like mine, just more advanced lol. I have 2x ocellaris, a scooter blenny, firefish, yellow headed sleeper goby, a yellow clown goby and a sixline. I noticed you have a lot of these fish, or close to.

The reason i fed him as much as i did, is because ive read that as long as i keep him well fed, he'll leave everyone else alone. How is yours with your other fish? Right now my DF is only about 2.5-3.5", my firefish is full grown, same with my scooter. My sleeper is about 3.5-4", sixline about 1.5", both ocellaris are about 1.5" and still babies, not sexed yet. The clown goby is a little under 1".

My only concern so far, besides saying hello to everyone, checking everyone out, the only person he seems the least bit interested in, is the scooter. I watched him stare at the scooter(scoot) for a little while, then he sort of bumped scoot with his nose. Did it about 3 more times. Each time my heart skipped a beat. After this, he completely left him alone to do his thing. Was he just curious since scoot is unlike anyone else in the tank, in which they all free swim, instead of scoot across the sand?

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Hmmmm, well it is true that a fat and happy puffer will be too lazy to bother anyone. Mine doesn't bother anyone in my tank, but then again I have a dwarf puffer. He's buddy-buddy with my cowfish and they cruise the tank together all day. Other than that though I think he may nip at some of my snails but once he realizes he can't get through the shell he just gives up and cruises around with the cowfish a bit more.

Never seen him bother anyone though, very well-mannered fish. A dogface might be a little more curious about small fishes though and I'd err on the side of caution with small, slow-moving fish as they're likely to become a food source to him.

[ice cream jones]

Oh thats right! I forgot you said you have a toby, not a DF. Sorry about that. Well thank you for your input, i really appreciate it :)

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

It's all good, but puffers are puffers and they all have similar tendencies. Hope he doesn't eat your little scooter.

[redheadfishlady]

My puffer looks pregnant and has a fat belly for about a day after he eats. I feed him every 3 days and feed him a good amount. I feed mine clam strips, krill, and silversides. I was told that he should not be fed every day but it would be best to feed him every few days. Mine does well with his tankmates. My wrasse is just a couple inches and he doesn't show any interest in it.

Here's a link to a picture of my puffer.

http://www.azreefs.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=57&pictureid=475

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Yeah, that looks about right. Mine stays like that for a day or so after I feed it. Mine eats with my cowfish though, and unfortunately my anthias doesn't allow me an optimal feeding sched for the puffers.

[ice cream jones]

I'll try that then :) the only problem is that I feed everyone else small krill and frozen brine with spirulina, he goes to town as soon as it's added to the tank...

[redheadfishlady]

I feed my other fish everyday but the food is so small that he can't eat it. I wouldn't worry about it if he gets food when you feed the others, but I would only include the food that he eats every few days. My puffer is a little pig and makes a big mess.

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

Well I feed a lot of mysis, both normal and jumbo, and krill. Sadly, the cowfish eats a lot of that thus the puffer gets to gorge himself. Cute little fish though and he doesn't bother anyone.

@OP. Just keep an eye on it for a couple days, the lumpiness will go down and just keep feeding normally. Puffers are wonderful fish to have :)

[ice cream jones]

Out of curiosity, later on, can I add a Valentino with the puffer in the tank? Sort of like how it's okay for dwarf angels and large angels to be together.

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

This is not something I know off hand. Maybe someone else can chime in.

[redheadfishlady]

No you can't have two smooth skinned puffers together. I have been told that you can sometimes put one smooth skinned and spiny puffer together.

I bought mine when he was 6 years old and the lfs told me he does not like porcupine puffers. He won't let them eat. The lfs guy said that he feels threatened by them.

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

There is a guy, I think dpjustin or someone that has a manila puffer and a porc puffer in the same tank. They're both relatively large and they're also very lazy in his lagoon tank. Apparently they get along quite buddy-buddy. Then again, one is a spikey puffer and the other is smooth.

[redheadfishlady]

Can we see a picture of your puffer ice cream? I am sure that he is really cute. I just love puffers. They have so much personality. I have heard of some puffers liking belly rubs that have been really little when the owners got them. My puffer freaks out when anyone goes within inches of him. Mine likes to sleep on top of my koralias and use my power cords as a hammock. He also tries to follow my tangs into their little caves and almost gets stuck. I think he thinks he is a smaller than what he is. He is always doing something strange.