Golden puffer changing color........help

[saltyESQ]

I bought a beautiful golden puffer and I just noticed that the side fins are turning dark and I also noticed some white circular spots (like a Sapo puffers spots) beginning to appear on his head.

It was my understanding that when a puffer is removed from the wild, the color will not change......has this happened to anyone else?

 

[MeskeetDog]

I head from the LFS that the Yellow was the male/female an the black and white spot was the opposite sex. Dont quote me on it though. Ive also heard that one is the juvenile and the other the adult. Hard to say...Maybe someone can fill us in with better knowledge?

 

[JustinReef]

I have heard they don't often change in home aquariums but that is has/does happen.

 

[pinkie]

The black and white spotted Guinea Fowl is the same puffer as the Golden. However, the the puffer changes from the Guinea Fowl colors to the Golden colors, not the other way around. Also, as Justin mentioned, they rarely change colors when they are in captivity. I am not sure why your's is changing.

Do you see the spots always, or only at some times, because they do slightly change their coloration/appearance at various times throughout the day, and some of his old coloration might be showing through during these times.

 

[LisaD]

Can you post a picture? Are you sure it's a true color change and not disease or stress?

 

[saltyESQ]

I will take some pics tonight. I can clearly see that it is actually color change. The white dots on his head look identical to a non golden sapo.

I feed the puffer mainly form 1 cubes. I tried feeding him clams on the half shell, but he didn't seem to know what they were. He also enjoys live feeder crabs.

 

[saltyESQ]

it was my understanding that these puffers have 3 different colors and the golden is the middle color.

anyone know?

 

[LisaD]

sorry, I don't know anything about it. I'm interested in seeing the pics when you get a chance to take and post.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12638683#post12638683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltyESQ
it was my understanding that these puffers have 3 different colors and the golden is the middle color.

anyone know?

Yes they do and it sounds like yours is changing to black and white. I have seen one that changed about half way from golden to black and white and was the most beautiful puffer I have ever seen. It just stayed inbetween color phases. I have also seen one that went from vibrant yellow to a kind of faded grey with a few spots.

 

[MeskeetDog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12636041#post12636041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pinkie
The black and white spotted Guinea Fowl is the same puffer as the Golden. However, the the puffer changes from the Guinea Fowl colors to the Golden colors, not the other way around. Also, as Justin mentioned, they rarely change colors when they are in captivity. I am not sure why your's is changing.

Do you see the spots always, or only at some times, because they do slightly change their coloration/appearance at various times throughout the day, and some of his old coloration might be showing through during these times.

I have heard that AND i have heard that the male is one color and the female another... ill check again at LFS when i go back. This particular topic seems to be all over the board when i comes to information. Not sure why. Confusing but interesting nevertheless.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12650126#post12650126 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MeskeetDog
I have heard that AND i have heard that the male is one color and the female another... ill check again at LFS when i go back. This particular topic seems to be all over the board when i comes to information. Not sure why. Confusing but interesting nevertheless.

I can tell you that they do in fact change color as they change stages of their lives. The males and females are not distinguished by color. Usually in the ocean they end up being black and white but often in home aquariums, if they are still in their golden stage, they will never change.

 

[saltyESQ]

My golden

Now changing a bit, grey fins and head spots

 

[saltyESQ]

Does anyone think that soaking food in vita chem could be causing the color change

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12657115#post12657115 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltyESQ
Does anyone think that soaking food in vita chem could be causing the color change

I would say hes a very happy, healthy puffer and yes the vitamins are helping him stay healthy. This does not happen all that often in aquarium partly because conditions are not ideal, IMO. You are obviously creating a very good environment for this little guy and you should be proud of that.

I get the feeling you are not happy about this change. Its a natural part of their lives though. Many, many fish go through dramatic body shape changes and color changes as they grow. Its all about adapting to their surroundings.

Have you seen a full grown, 4 or 5 year old Guineafowl puffer that stayed in its golden stage all its life? They are a very faded greyish/yellow and not as nice as the black and white ones, IMO. Unfortunately its rare to find people keeping them alive long enough to see them as adults.

BTW, if Im wrong about you being upset about his color change, I apologize, thats just the feeling I am getting from your post.

 

[pinkie]

There are two phases, the black and white and the yellow. Some people call the middle part a phase, but all it really is the transition period between going from black and white to yellow. My guess, is that your puffer is on the tail end of the transition phase, and almost completely yellow. He will more than likely stay like he is now, but may lose the spots.

I also assume that the reason you are seeing them now and may not have before, is because of stress, and the fact that you have had a chance to get a closer look at him. As I said before, they can change their colors slightly in a matter of seconds due to stress, which may blur or exemplify the white spots.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12657649#post12657649 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pinkie
There are two phases, the black and white and the yellow. Some people call the middle part a phase, but all it really is the transition period between going from black and white to yellow. My guess, is that your puffer is on the tail end of the transition phase, and almost completely yellow. He will more than likely stay like he is now, but may lose the spots.

I also assume that the reason you are seeing them now and may not have before, is because of stress, and the fact that you have had a chance to get a closer look at him. As I said before, they can change their colors slightly in a matter of seconds due to stress, which may blur or exemplify the white spots.

Are they not Yellow as juveniles and black and white as adults? While diving, we saw huge Guineafowl puffers, all black and white and only a few small ones, all were golden. None of the ones over a foot were golden though.

 

[JustinReef]

This was in Northern Australia by the way.

 

[pinkie]

You may be right, I have always heard that it was the other way though. In captivity, I have never seen a golden under about 10 inches in length, but have seen tons of black and white ones around 4". My black and white guinea fowl was about 5" when I bought him.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12659376#post12659376 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pinkie
You may be right, I have always heard that it was the other way though. In captivity, I have never seen a golden under about 10 inches in length, but have seen tons of black and white ones around 4". My black and white guinea fowl was about 5" when I bought him.

Yeah to be honest I really don't know because I have seen the same as you but diving we saw adults only as black and white. They were definitely Guineafowl puffers, so I have no idea. I have also searched the net and found both colors in all different sizes.

 

[saltyESQ]

I am 90% sure what is causing the color change. To keep nitrates down, every 2 weeks I heavily dose sugar. I dosed yesterday and 5 hours later I could swear that his top fin changed color.