Dog faced puffer?

[looneytunes]

Hello all,
I was just wondering if it is common for a puffer to have a personality change. The little guy came home and was doing really well, friendly as anything but now he is scared. He changes color frequently but food makes him normal real quick but then goes dark again. i was trying to keep the lights off but now figure he needs to get on a normal cycle. I bought him on Friday night. He really does perk up for a few minutes when i put food in there. Also he isn't going for the clams on a half shell. Is eating either baby frozen prawns or those frozen mussel cubes. Am i just worrying to soon? Water parameters are fine.
Thank you,
Christine

p.s. Is it possible that the 2 pictures i snapped of him on saturday could have caused this. He was fine up until then.

 

[randomfishguy85]

just give him time, my puffer can be really moody as well. i change anything and it will sulk or hide, but it always eats

 

[looneytunes]

Thanks, I was really worried that something was wrong but then i noticed the quick change with food and waited 2 more feedings before posing the question. He seems real lonely right now he is the only fish and looks real tiny in a 5' tank. Could that also contribute. I catch him playing with what i am assuming is his reflection.

 

[randomfishguy85]

im not sure if the lack of tankmates makes a difference. just remember that the fish has only been in there a couple of days, it needs time. dont worry about it, the fish wil be fine

 

[looneytunes]

Thank you

 

[FishGuy5]

I do think that they are a little skittish, but will get more comfortable as time passes on. I've had mine since Thanksgiving and he still hides alot except for feeding time. I've aquascaped a couple of times and added new tank mates. I think he wants a little stability and then he'll be fine.

 

[Fishnthecorner]

My wife and I have one, and he absolutely loves Krill shrimp! We feed it to him with feeding tweezers. Have you tried the dried krill shrimp? (We call him puppy or sometimes fatass) He is always out in the open water...

 

[looneytunes]

Thanks for the help everyone. Eating doesn't seem to be a problem. How often does everybody feed them? How can you tell if they have worms? I heard that they often do but i'm not sure how i could tell.

 

[namxas]

A good indication of internal parasites is white, stringy feces.

 

[looneytunes]

what if it looks similar to what went in?

 

[namxas]

Puffers have pretty messy poop...are you saying the food is coming out more or less whole, or that it's more or less "recognizeable"?

 

[looneytunes]

recognizable. the current will easily break it apart but especially with the frozen mussel cubes. it is definitely recognizable. he doesn't go right away maybe at least 1hr.