Griffie the puffer keeping in shape

karazy · #1 04-15-2009, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

This was one of mine just over a year back after he was bitten by another puffers while eating. Check out the strain on that skin!

Isnt that the EXACT same picture you have on a thread thats basicaly the same as this one,
saying your puffer puffs up for food and its hilarious? So hilarious you were laughing so hard that you were almost crying?

link below:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=37420

GreenSpottedPuffer · #2 04-15-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karazy

Isnt that the EXACT same picture you have on a thread thats basicaly the same as this one,
saying your puffer puffs up for food and its hilarious? So hilarious you were laughing so hard that you were almost crying?

link below:
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=37420

Yup and since then I have learned a lot and know better. Actually I told my brother that story and he got pretty mad as he knew a lot more about puffers than I did at the time. I think this picture was actually from after he was bit on the tail though. Perhaps I have the two mixed up, don't remember anymore. But the point is that mine was puffing sometimes for food which is a sign of stress.

This is why I said a lot of myths about why they puff up are out there and unfortunately not true. Like stretching. A year and a half ago I would have believed that. I have kept puffers for 12 years now, 6 years saltwater and never knew these things until I was told. I tried to pass on the knowledge and basically got the 'doesn't apply to my puffer, hes just got personality' answer. No problem...I am learning (maybe too slowly) to just keep my mouth shut and not bother giving advice unless its asked for around here.

my2rotties · #3 04-15-2009, 05:46 AM

But in the picture you mentioned he puffed up for food, and then in this post you said he was bitten by another puffer. If you were standing right there laughing, would you not have seen the bite happen and know why he puffed up?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

Yup and since then I have learned a lot and know better.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #4 04-15-2009, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my2rotties

But in the picture you mentioned he puffed up for food, and then in this post you said he was bitten by another puffer. If you were standing right there laughing, would you not have seen the bite happen and know why he puffed up?

No I said I have a few pictures from a year and a half ago and don't know which one is which anymore. I have one from after he was bitten and one from the food incident. Actually I have a third from even before that and I have no idea why he was puffed. Unfortunately he used to puff a lot and only lived two years before suddenly dying.

my2rotties · #5 04-15-2009, 06:05 AM

Well I can honestly say I have provided Grffie with all that I possibly can give him. I have went through hell with this fish, and am very happy to have him with and he will always be with me for the rest of his life.

There is nothing I can do more I possibly do for him, and I know in my heart I have done more then anyone else would do. I hope he has a long and happy life for however log it might be. As sad as I would be to lose him, I will be in peace with myself knowing he had a wonderful and was the king of my tank.

I didn't post pictures to have a thread about puffing being bad for him. He just does it and my friend at the LFS says it is very normal and not to worry about it. This is not the store I bought him at obviously. I do not see anything stressing him out, he eats well, he is ich and disease free and his eyes are clear and bright... I can see him hunting my reef now after the lights are out, but he will have his face sucked against the glass when I come down in the morning.

I have done all I could and know I did and I am not going to constantly worry about his puffing. He does what he needs to do and I see no stress in him afterwards. Their skin is make to do this and I am not about to worry about him now... He is happy so I am happy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

No I said I have a few pictures from a year and a half ago and don't know which one is which anymore. I have one from after he was bitten and one from the food incident. Actually I have a third from even before that and I have no idea why he was puffed. Unfortunately he used to puff a lot and only lived two years before suddenly dying.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #6 04-15-2009, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my2rotties

Well I can honestly say I have provided Grffie with all that I possibly can give him. I have went through hell with this fish, and am very happy to have him with and he will always be with me for the rest of his life.

There is nothing I can do more I possibly do for him, and I know in my heart I have done more then anyone else would do. I hope he has a long and happy life for however log it might be. As sad as I would be to lose him, I will be in peace with myself knowing he had a wonderful and was the king of my tank.

I didn't post pictures to have a thread about puffing being bad for him. He just does it and my friend at the LFS says it is very normal and not to worry about it. This is not the store I bought him at obviously. I do not see anything stressing him out, he eats well, he is ich and disease free and his eyes are clear and bright... I can see him hunting my reef now after the lights are out, but he will have his face sucked against the glass when I come down in the morning.

I have done all I could and know I did and I am not going to constantly worry about his puffing. He does what he needs to do and I see no stress in him afterwards. Their skin is make to do this and I am not about to worry about him now... He is happy so I am happy.

Ugh...yes I already said I apologize this became a debate. I said its not personal and I wouldn't worry about your puffer. I also just decided (and regret) to post some info about why they puff and how hard it on them. Yes their skin has evolved to handle it, doesn't mean its good. As you see from that old post, I used to think it was hilarious. I know how hard it on them now and feel terrible I ever felt it was so funny. I have learned a lot since then and thought I would pass it along. It wasn't even directed at you specifically, just a general idea of why they puff and how harsh it is when they do.

You get so incredibly defensive and I knew better (don't mean that in a bad way other than to myself). I just wish you understood why I posted and you would not have felt the need to defend anything. I think you know I feel you have given an incredible home to this puffer as I have told you this countless times and even encouraged you not to get rid of him when you thought about it because you were not going to find a home as good.

Anyways, back on topic. Great pictures and as I said before, theres not much you can do and I wouldn't worry about his puffing up.

Snaz · #7 04-15-2009, 06:50 AM

I just wanted to chime in here about defensive responses and stress. Many animals have many different response mechanisms to stress all in an effort to improve survivability; camoflauge, ink-jets, tails that fall off or just run like hell etc. Off the top of my head I cannot think of any defensive response of any creature that would put that creature in further harms way, except bee stings but that is whole hive organism thing.

To say a defensive response contributes to that creature's demise does not make sense to me on an evolutionary scale. Can anyone think of any examples where a defensive response actually does the organism harm?

I understand that puffing is probably stressful and if a puffer was puffing too much and or constantly inflated it's not going to do well but I expect whatever condition is eliciting the defensive response is more harmful than the actual response.