Green Spotted Puffer behaviors

[macofishy]

Hello, new member here. My GSP seems very happy living alone in her 55 gallon brackish water tank. Only recently have I noticed that her belly changes from dark to white to black to white again in a matter of minutes. Does anyone know why she does this? Nothing has changed in the 4 years I've cared for her except for the same decorations I move around in her tank. I check salinity with my refractometer every week or as needed, test the water for ammonia and nitrate levels weekly, do weekly partial water changes, overfiltrate her practically spotless tank, and water temp is always between 79-82 degrees F.

Also, she quickly swims up and down the side of her tank when someone (familiar or unfamiliar) puts their face up to the tank. She does this for about 20 seconds and them calms down. One time, she swam so fast she jumped out of the tank. I scooped her up quickly with my hands and placed her back in her tank. She did not puff up and I have since covered that small opening at the top of my tank.

These fish are so intelligent. She swims over to watch when we are eating dinner or tracks us while we are moving around the room. I hand feed her small pond snails as treats. Otherwise, she loves frozen bloodworms, mussels, and clams.

NOTE: I believe my GSP is a female because she often stares at her self in the mirror that is attached to the outside of her tank.

 

[Deadeye]

Welcome to the forum!
Puffers will change colors often to blend in to surroundings or sometimes out of stress. Pics would help, but if it’s a regularly occurring thing I doubt it’s a problem.
It swims up and down when seeing you because it knows you bring food, and is begging for it.
FWIW, it’s staring at its reflection probably because it sees another puffer, and therefore an intruder, and is going to fight it off. Most puffers don’t like each other.

 

[tlindsey]

Hello, new member here. My GSP seems very happy living alone in her 55 gallon brackish water tank. Only recently have I noticed that her belly changes from dark to white to black to white again in a matter of minutes. Does anyone know why she does this? Nothing has changed in the 4 years I've cared for her except for the same decorations I move around in her tank. I check salinity with my refractometer every week or as needed, test the water for ammonia and nitrate levels weekly, do weekly partial water changes, overfiltrate her practically spotless tank, and water temp is always between 79-82 degrees F.

Also, she quickly swims up and down the side of her tank when someone (familiar or unfamiliar) puts their face up to the tank. She does this for about 20 seconds and them calms down. One time, she swam so fast she jumped out of the tank. I scooped her up quickly with my hands and placed her back in her tank. She did not puff up and I have since covered that small opening at the top of my tank.

These fish are so intelligent. She swims over to watch when we are eating dinner or tracks us while we are moving around the room. I hand feed her small pond snails as treats. Otherwise, she loves frozen bloodworms, mussels, and clams.

NOTE: I believe my GSP is a female because she often stares at her self in the mirror that is attached to the outside of her tank.

Welcome aboard

 

[xenacanth9]

Can sometimes be a bad sign but I wouldn't worry yet. Keep updating though

 

[kzimmerman]

I think your gsp is the best kept one I’ve seen, plenty of room and brackish conditions are almost unheard of. When I worked at petsmart I got a rep for knowing my stuff and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen them in fw 10g tanks. I’d try to tell them and they’d get grumpy about it and leave. I think far too many of those puffers go to certain death!