Question about curious fish behavior...

xinbug · 06-08-2005, 10:51 PM

Hey, I'm new around here... I've had a 75 gallon saltwater fish and live rock tank for a year now (and I had a 29 gallon before that for a year). I also am in the process of setting up a 35 gallon reef tank.
In my 75 gal. I have a Niger Triger, Blue-Velvet Damsel, Sailfin Tang, two Percula Clownfish, and a Hawaiian Blue-Spotted Dwarf Puffer. Just to fill you in.
Anyway, my problem is that my puffer tries to EAT the bubbles coming from my aerator. I am not sure if any harm will come to him but I just was curious as to whether this is common or not. I surely have never seen it before. That's all! thanks

angnak · 06-09-2005, 07:26 AM

Welcome to the reef!!!

I am not sure if any harm will come to him but I am sure someone will be able to give you a definite answer. I bet that is a strange sight to see.

Here is a

Woodstock · 06-09-2005, 08:33 AM

Welcome to Reef Sanctuary!!

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles, bubbles.... oops sorry~

Try feeding it more?

Cougra · 06-09-2005, 08:57 AM

I'm uncertain if it'll do the puffer any harm, but I would keep an eye on it. The main problem I can see this causing is if it constantly has air in it's system it will put extra strain on it's swim bladder to compensate for the added bouyancy of the fish. In a healthy fish with a strong swim bladder, this shouldn't be a problem, however if the fish gets weak or there is something wrong with the swimbladder, then you could have a problem with the puffer not being able to maintain nuetral bouyancy and it will need to struggle to be able to swim tothe bottom of the tank. This problem is known to occur in a few types of freshwater fish and I have seen some tank breed clownfish with similar problems, however this is associated more with constantly feeding them at the surface and they gulp too much air. If it does happen, the best thing to do would be to remove the airstone and feed the fish below the surface of the tank. Eventually the extra air will pass through the fish and it'll be able to maintain neutral bouyancy on it's own.

06-08-2005, 10:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
xinbug Tunicate Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1 View Gallery Karma Komment	Question about curious fish behavior... Hey, I'm new around here... I've had a 75 gallon saltwater fish and live rock tank for a year now (and I had a 29 gallon before that for a year). I also am in the process of setting up a 35 gallon reef tank. In my 75 gal. I have a Niger Triger, Blue-Velvet Damsel, Sailfin Tang, two Percula Clownfish, and a Hawaiian Blue-Spotted Dwarf Puffer. Just to fill you in. Anyway, my problem is that my puffer tries to EAT the bubbles coming from my aerator. I am not sure if any harm will come to him but I just was curious as to whether this is common or not. I surely have never seen it before. That's all! thanks

06-09-2005, 07:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
angnak Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 555 View Gallery Karma Komment	Welcome to the reef!!! I am not sure if any harm will come to him but I am sure someone will be able to give you a definite answer. I bet that is a strange sight to see. Here is a __________________ 210gal AGA SW tank. 3 250w MH 4 160w VHOs, 30 gal refuge, ASM Skimmer, Orange shoulder tang, Black tang, Naso tang, 2 orange percs, 2 black percs, 1 lawnmower blenny, a pair of scooter blennies, 5 cleaner shrimp, 5 peppermint shrimp, zebra crabs, halloween crabs, scarlett crabs, various other crabs and snails, 1 rock anemone, 2 colonies of button polyps, 3 colony of star polyps, 3 BTAs, monti cap, various acros

06-09-2005, 08:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 21,658 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Welcome to Reef Sanctuary!! Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles, bubbles.... oops sorry~ Try feeding it more? __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~29 gal QT/Hospital tank~* *~3 gal Pico~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MH, dual Actinic t5s,AquaController III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

06-09-2005, 08:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	I'm uncertain if it'll do the puffer any harm, but I would keep an eye on it. The main problem I can see this causing is if it constantly has air in it's system it will put extra strain on it's swim bladder to compensate for the added bouyancy of the fish. In a healthy fish with a strong swim bladder, this shouldn't be a problem, however if the fish gets weak or there is something wrong with the swimbladder, then you could have a problem with the puffer not being able to maintain nuetral bouyancy and it will need to struggle to be able to swim tothe bottom of the tank. This problem is known to occur in a few types of freshwater fish and I have seen some tank breed clownfish with similar problems, however this is associated more with constantly feeding them at the surface and they gulp too much air. If it does happen, the best thing to do would be to remove the airstone and feed the fish below the surface of the tank. Eventually the extra air will pass through the fish and it'll be able to maintain neutral bouyancy on it's own. __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

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