He has been getting more and more lethargic.  Now he will just rest on the bottom of the tank or in some rock work for the entire day.  He will turn from his light tan to a dark brown or just be splotchy.  At time he will appear to be gasping for air.  Then at other times usually right after I turn off the lights for the night.  He will shake violently like he just puffed up and is trying expelling water.  Swim around for a few minutes then go back to his hiding spot. 

He has been doing this for some time,  but has been getting progressively worse where he won't come out but for a few minutes just to eat some food.

Sorry to hear about your puffer!

How long have you had this puffer?

What other tankmates?

Any new additions in the last 60 days?

Do you quarantine?

Do you deworm?

What are you feeding the puffer?

Any scratching or flashing?

Can you post a picture of the puffer?

appx 6 months

What other tankmates?

Lawnmower blenny, tomato clown, coral beauty, lunar wrasse, 2 damsels.  No one bothers him he the biggest fish in the tank

Any new additions in the last 60 days?

Tomato clown, and live rock

Do you quarantine?

The tomato, the rest were added together

Do you deworm?

no

What are you feeding the puffer?

Some clam some krill soaked in zoe, marine one, (I feed it to the other fish but he eats most of it)  Or oysters

Any scratching or flashing?

What is flashing.  I'm not really sure about stratching,  Well he will get off his rock and rub over the rock to get out.  But I don't see him rubbing on it back and forth like a horse might rub against a tree.

Can you post a picture of the puffer?

Later this evening[/quote]

How often do you feed krill and does the puffer eat mostly krill ?

When the puffer eats, is he able to open his mouth and does he appear to chew the food?

Was the rock quarantined?

no

How often do you feed krill and does the puffer eat mostly krill ?

No he eats mainly shellfish, oysters, then now clams (the seafood store was out of oysters)  In the morning I feed him some formula 1 or some stuff that the lfs sells (homemade mix) with algea and some seafood mix I've seen a mussle in it.  (they own't tell me what is in it.)  or then an oyster or clam at night. 

When the puffer eats, is he able to open his mouth and does he appear to chew the food?

He hits the food, the oyster he usually hits before the shell hits the sand.  And goes to town.  Bites it spits it out bites it again.  That is the only time he acts normally.

Was the rock quarantined?

here  is a picture, he looks better today,

here is another picture sorry it is abit blurry I'm working with a camera phone

The puffer looks good - appears to be eating well

The teeth look good - not overgrown.

Many puffers will stay lodged in rock caves during the day and will be more active at night.  Puffers often are nocturnal.

Color changes are often seen with sleeping/rest, after eating and when stressed.

I would consider deworming the puffer and really all fish.

From what you are describing, your puffer seems to have "settled in" - watch to see what your puffer is doing when you note the color change. 

Often, puffers will get startled or "scared" when there is a sudden change in lighting - might consider gradually turning the lights off or have a room light on when the tanks lights go off - then transition that off.

Thanks for sharing/posting.