I got a puffer yesterday, and I was careful about choosing him getting the big solid white belly, active, no ick or other visible diseases, and bright colors.
As soon as he was moved to the bag, his belly turned black. I did some research (after posting here yesterday) and discovered it's most likely stress. So now I'm trying to figure out how do I make him turn white again?
He's currently in a 1 gallon tank with an under gravel filter. I know this isn't the best place to keep a puffer, I'm waiting til Friday when I get some money from my mom to get him a 10 gallon all to himself.
Also, I forgot I have to pre-mix the salt water, so I didn't add it. I bought him from Wal-Mart (currently the only place in this town that sells puffers larger than a speck of dust.) so he was in fresh water, the only salt being the aquarium salt we add to the giant filter pool at the bottom of the giant tanks, which only prevents disease, doesn't make the water salty. (I think the snails would have melted if it was, considering the water where we dump the salt flows through all the tanks at one point or another.) Anyway, point is that he's not used to salt water, so it's not shock from being in fresh water. And the temperature's about the same.
He's swimming around, eating like a piglet, and doesn't seem to be having difficulties breathing. Though he does look like he's sulking when he does rest on the bottom. Also, he hides behind the roots of the plants in the tank.
So what's wrong and how do I calm him down and make him turn white again?
). I say give him some time to calm down himself. Everything should be ok.