Morph

I'e had my redeye puffers for 4 months now. I've been noticing something really odd lately. when i turn out the lights for a few hours my puffers turn see through, i've never noticed this before. When i turn the lights on they are colorless, gills look redish but i mean they are deathly looking.

The first time i saw this i thought it was ammonia or nitrite poisoning, so i'd do a 50% water change add some prime and everything goes back to normal. This has been going on for like 4 days now.

Today I was a little slower and freaking out, i turned the light on and after about 10 mins i noticed the fish's color perks up after a few minutes. I've tested my water and everytime it's 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 10 ppm for the nitrate, so it ain't poisoning.

I can't honestly say that i've watched my fish go to bed everynight since i've had them, but i would have freaked out about this along time ago and i feel this is something i would have noticed.

Am I crazy here or do puffers lose their color when they are sleeping. why do my fish look like they are dying when i turn out the lights? this isn't omg my fish doesn't look as pretty, this is like omfg why can i see through my fishes body :|

any advice would be great, because it seems obvious to me that the water change and prime treatment isn't what is fixing this, turning the lights on is. I'm so lost and like i said i've had these fish for months and i woulda noticed this for sure.

Peterpiper

Wow, I know that seahorses can change colours, and sick fish will loses colour.
But as you say this happens when you switch the lights off, Hmm
I have no idea if the fish do this normaly.. Sorry dont know the answer, but will tag along.

Morph

i guess i'm being ignored

COBettaCouple

What type of red puffer do you have? If you have a Carinotetraodon lorteti, they can change color based on their surroundings.

Morph

i have few rrubesco and 2 fel lorett, they bthdo th olr chnge thig at night.

Morph

I won't edit that last post because it's funny and shows how bad wireless keyboards are heh.

honestly i'm not sure if they are loretti or irrubesco. i'm pretty sure i have 2 male irrubesco 1 female irrubesco and 2 female lorretti.

Drea

Morph...my black skirt tetras are always a little pale when I turn the tank light on. Within minutes, their color darkens. Just offering some input.

Morph

starting to warm up to the idea, just seems odd i never noticed until the one time i do and i think they are all dying from ammonia poisoning or something.

steveangela1

you could try water changes like 20 percent everyday and see if it helps them...

Is it getting plenty of snails in its diet? Hard food? Are they eating good?
I just looked at the water parameters for that fish, it said they like slightly acidic water w/ dh up to 12 degrees. Soft water.

I had to look them up, I have been a big puffer fan for a long long time! I would love to have a tank w/ some in them. I hope they get better...

Morph

you live near mtl? i've got a male i'd like to relocate