Ever had a fish try to commit suicide by blunt force trauma?? Toby Puffer issue....

everpresentnoob

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So I have a 32 gallon BioCube in my bedroom with a Blue Spotted Toby Puffer and a black and white clown in it. Tank has been great for the last couple months. They both eat well and are pretty active during the day.

This morning while I was in my room I heard a BANG from the tank and head the lid kinda move like it had been dropped closed. I looked at it just intime to see my puffer jet up from the bottom of the tank and hit full speed nose first into the under side of the lid. Twice... all three within maybe 20 seconds. after the last time he kinda just drifted down to the bottom unmoving and upside down. Thought he was dead. No movement, no fin twitching. the current kinda pushed him around a bit and he drifted under a rock. Left him alone for a bit to see if he just dazed himself, but 45 mins later he still hadent moved. reached my hand in and touched his tail and he flipped upright and swam away. then seemed to pass out again and drifted for a bit. 15 mins later he was back under the rock on his side. Again I reached in and touched his tail and he popped upright and swam away.

Its now been about 30 mins since the last time i woke him up, and he is still upright and swimming, granted not as fast and as much as normal.

Anyone else have a fish do this?
 
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everpresentnoob

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I mean he looks ok and seems to be perking up back to his normal behavior. heres a pic, don't mind the algae on hte rocks, I have a lazy urchin in the tank....
 

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vetteguy53081

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I mean he looks ok and seems to be perking up back to his normal behavior. heres a pic, don't mind the algae on hte rocks, I have a lazy urchin in the tank....
Fish is gorgeous. Yes, have seen this with many fish and with puffer, he have taken the cover as an object and went after it. Other reason they do this is irritation and a result from darting across water. Thank goodness for the cover
 
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everpresentnoob

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I have seen one of my fire fish do this in my 75 gallon tank, but I have a mesh lid I made so it wasn't a hard object to hit. Thinking maybe I should do the same on this tank, but that means I have to upgrade the light on it. Bummer... But if it keeps the little guy from knocking himself out guess it's a good upgrade! Lol
 

Jay Hemdal

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Could the clown have bitten it, causing it to be startled?
 
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everpresentnoob

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The clown is Tiny and they have been in the tank together for about 6 months. I have never seen aggression on the clown's part. Granted I did not see the initial hit to the lid, but the second two that I did see the clown was in the back of the tank at the top and the puffer started his run at the bottom front of the tank where he was all alone.
 

MnFish1

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Sometimes water conditions - or low O2 can cause this - assuming your other fish are fine, this is an unlikely explanation
 
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everpresentnoob

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I have a skimmer in the back of the thing going so the warmer should be oxygenated. The clown is fine and hasn't done anything weird, just Lips, my puffer ... But he seems fine now. Just checked on him again and he's swimming around like he normally does.
 

MnFish1

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I have a skimmer in the back of the thing going so the warmer should be oxygenated. The clown is fine and hasn't done anything weird, just Lips, my puffer ... But he seems fine now. Just checked on him again and he's swimming around like he normally does.
Good.
 

shakacuz

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I have a skimmer in the back of the thing going so the warmer should be oxygenated. The clown is fine and hasn't done anything weird, just Lips, my puffer ... But he seems fine now. Just checked on him again and he's swimming around like he normally does.
glad it was just a momentary scare/concern!
 

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