View Full Version : Rings on Figure 8 puffer fish?
DNordbak
10-15-2005, 3:35 AM
I don't know if this is a problem or not, but I recently noticed that on one of my figure 8 puffer's belly, it has about 6 or 7 small rings on it. The only reason I noticed it is because my other one doesn't have it, so I'm just curious if that is a problem.
They are living in a fresh water 10 gallon tank, and have been eating normally.
Oddball
10-15-2005, 3:48 AM
Rings are common among multiple puffers kept together. They're bite marks.
Your puffers are a brackish water species. In freshwater, their lives are shorter and they're more prone to disease.
DNordbak
10-15-2005, 12:13 PM
Alright, well I had kind of thought that they were bite marks, but just wanted it to make sure. Is it something I should be concerned about? The only time that they fight is during feeding, and that is just when a regular pecking order is established.
rweedon
10-15-2005, 12:35 PM
they are not a brackish water fish there was a big debate thread and they need to def. be kept in a bigger tank (see figure of 8) don't remember what forum it was in just do a general search...
Oddball
10-15-2005, 12:43 PM
they are not a brackish water fish there was a big debate thread and they need to def. be kept in a bigger tank (see figure of 8) don't remember what forum it was in just do a general search...
From "The Puffers" Aqualog Series: This puffer is perhaps the most beautiful of all the brackish-water species.
Unfortunately, if kept long-term in fresh-water this species tends to be delicate and disease prone. By contrast Tetraodon biocellatus has proved to be hardy and resilient in brackish and marine aquaria.
I've kept figure-8s in fresh (very hard and alkaline) and brackish tanks. The puffers kept in brackish were more active and grew faster.
finsandfangs
10-15-2005, 10:25 PM
what i have read says that the circles are a sign of stress
here is one good write up on puffers ( backing the circle theory)http://puffernet.tripod.com/holistic.html
it also would not make sense to me that a fish with a beak could bite perfect circles everytime
my puffers get the circles every once in a while if you look a couple minutes later they have none .....so how could it be a bite