Green Spotted Puffer hurt (Pics added)

GreenSpottedPuffer · #1 01-09-2009, 10:01 PM

Yeah I am actually getting kind of annoyed because I want to take a picture of him while he looks like Two Face (from Batman) but the skin is shedding and he looks normal underneath...which of course is great but still.

I think if it were any other fish, they would not make it. But since Puffers have such tough, thick skin, he seems to have been able to handle the sting. From the looks of the burns, the anemone must have had him very tight and was starting to engulf him. He must have really struggled to get loose. When I have touched that anemone, it does not let go easily. Its hard to rip your finger off and it takes the skin with it.

untamed · #2 01-09-2009, 10:36 PM

Hmm...whenever the anemone tries to catch my hand, it is bits of the anemone that come off stuck to me (not the other way 'round).

My blonde naso has a habit of trying to steal food from the nem. I can always tell because he looks like he has herpes for about a day.

To my knowledge, my green carpet has never captured and eaten a healthy fish. I've seen it eat a large hermit crab, and my friend swears he saw it eat a large serpent star...but no fish. At this point, it could be that the clowns scare potential meals away.

Sounds like your friend will be just fine. Maybe he learned that he isn't indestructible!

GreenSpottedPuffer · #3 01-09-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by untamed

Hmm...whenever the anemone tries to catch my hand, it is bits of the anemone that come off stuck to me (not the other way 'round).

My blonde naso has a habit of trying to steal food from the nem. I can always tell because he looks like he has herpes for about a day.

To my knowledge, my green carpet has never captured and eaten a healthy fish. I've seen it eat a large hermit crab, and my friend swears he saw it eat a large serpent star...but no fish. At this point, it could be that the clowns scare potential meals away.

Sounds like your friend will be just fine. Maybe he learned that he isn't indestructible!

Yeah I have no idea what kind of anemone it even is. I tried to get an ID for along time on here and RC with no luck. No one seems to know.

It is ridiculously sticky though and I have watched it eat healthy fish. I have also watched it spit back out a large hermit shell. It eats anything. It even ate a piece of monti cap that fell into it. About two days later it spat the cap frag back out which was completely white of course by then.

I think your right that he will be fine. I think I may be able to take some pics now.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #4 01-09-2009, 11:10 PM

So I guess I overreacted...maybe hurt BADLY was not accurate but at the time, it looked bad. Now it looks 10 times better. Most of the skin has already come off and underneath looks great. Amazing little fish these guys are!

Its so hard to get a pic of him because the tangs crowd the glass

as soon as you get within a few feet of the tank.

This gives you an idea of his size...hes still quite small. He is also very dull since the incident, usually he is bright green...poor guy!

And the stings...you can see where all the welts were. He was actually swollen at first too but the swelling is mostly gone. Too bad my camera was dead when I first noticed it.

Here you can see his "good" side. Also in the background is one of the small carpet anemones. I don't think this one stung him. Its too small.

justinl · #5 01-09-2009, 11:34 PM

Imo, that fish is going to be fine. Correct me if Im wrong, but puffers can shed a lot of mucus for a fish right? That is probably what you are seeing peeling off, rather than actual skin (although im sure he felt the actual sting, thus leading to welts/sweling and an escape response). Are GSPs toxic? might want to think about water changes if they are... i know a lot of puffers secrete toxins when they are stressed enough.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #6 01-09-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinl

Imo, that fish is going to be fine. Correct me if Im wrong, but puffers can shed a lot of mucus for a fish right? That is probably what you are seeing peeling off, rather than actual skin (although im sure he felt the actual sting, thus leading to welts/sweling and an escape response). Are GSPs toxic? might want to think about water changes if they are... i know a lot of puffers secrete toxins when they are stressed enough.

They can shed a LOT of mucus but I have seen that before and I don't think this is that. Its actually flaking off in pieces. I caught some in a net and removed them just now...seems like skin to me. Its hard to tell in the pics but his skin underneath is a slightly different color as well. Kind of like how peoples skin is if you loose a layer...I could be wring though.

They are somewhat toxic but only to eat. No puffers can actually secrete toxins as far as I know. Just the close relative, box fish. They just have toxins in some their organs and can be lethal if ingested. I am pretty sure the secretion of toxins is a rumor. I have had some extremely stressed puffers in tanks over the years and they never kill tanks with toxins.

I could be wrong though...

fatpuffer · #7 01-09-2009, 11:53 PM

I agree with you gsp...i dont think puffers can secrete toxin. however, wild caught puffers such as freshwater south american puffers do have toxins in their skins. I remember a fellow in riverfront did not know he had a small cut in his hand and took out a dead SA puff and he had a mild reaction...numbness from the same hand up to the shoulder. It went away after a few hours.

Jonah

Js