Fat little puffer

R

rcreations

Guest
This guy was sold to me as a dogface puffer. Interesting coloration with the gold and olive colors. Right now he's sharing the QT with the Sargassum and he eats pretty much anything I put in the tank. Well, he didn't care for the algae sheet, otherwise everything.
Anyone have any suggestions what I can feed it to file its teeth down? Right now they're fine but just thinking long term. He's really small... maybe 2-3".

 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
I've always used a piece of cuttlebone, the type for birds.and my puffers love it. I just tie a piece and put it out of sight, triggers gnaw on it too. Be sure to just get the plain cuttlebone, not the type with vitamins. Its a natural marine product too.
 
R

rcreations

Guest
Cuttlebone like that white chip that turns into powder when birds eat it? Cool, I never thought of that. What's it made of?
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by RCreations
http:///forum/post/2735595
Cuttlebone like that white chip that turns into powder when birds eat it? Cool, I never thought of that. What's it made of?
Its the "bone" of a cuttlefish, close cousin of squid. Not real bone, but I guess it holds them together. I think there's a lot of calcium in them too.
 
el guapo

el guapo

Active Member
I have always given treats to mine such as live fiddler crabs . Not as a diet but just as a treat . Frozen shrimp , Fresh clams,muscles and oysters . But the cuttle bone is a really good idea .
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by EL GUAPO
http:///forum/post/2735662
I have always given treats to mine such as live fiddler crabs . Not as a diet but just as a treat . Frozen shrimp , Fresh clams,muscles and oysters . But the cuttle bone is a really good idea .
All good stuff, a clam, smacked a little on the counter (or with a hammer, outside, if you're married) is a great treat and teether for all fish. IME, if a picky fish won't eat an opened fresh clam, he's as good as dead. Years ago, I got a Moorish Idol to eat this way and I had him for years.
 
R

rcreations

Guest
My triggers love clams, especially the humu... he goes nuts for them and if I put one that's unopened, that'll keep him busy all day.
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
That is a really pretty dogface. I fed mine oysters on a half shell as well as other meaty foods. Never had a problem with his teeth he did a good job at chewing on the liverock as well as the oyster shell. I just make sure to feed it almost frozen.
 
ca161406

ca161406

Member
Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/2735771
That is a really pretty dogface. I fed mine oysters on a half shell as well as other meaty foods. Never had a problem with his teeth he did a good job at chewing on the liverock as well as the oyster shell. I just make sure to feed it almost frozen.
ya mine chew on the rock like its candy lol
 
R

rcreations

Guest
I hope it's not a golden puffer. They grow much larger than dogface puffers, too large for my 150gal tank.
 
R

rcreations

Guest
I paid $30 for it. Same price as a regular small dogface. But I don't think it's a Golden Puffer. Goldens have a different shaped head a little. Here's a picture of the one I used to have and had to sell:
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by mantisman51
http:///forum/post/2739430
My lined puffer chews on the LR. He won't hardly touch mussel or shrimp. He loves marine flakes though.
He needs to chew something; if his teeth aren't kept trimmed, it can eventually kill him. I'd do everything you can to get this fish on meatier foods. Depending on size, frozen mysiss may be a good start. Bigger puffers need bigger chunks of food. IMO; a diet of only flakes is inadequate for almost any fish, much less a big carnivore like your puffer. He should love pieces of raw shrimp (with shell), scallops, silversides, etc.
 
hammerhed7

hammerhed7

Active Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2739491
He needs to chew something; if his teeth aren't kept trimmed, it can eventually kill him. I'd do everything you can to get this fish on meatier foods. Depending on size, frozen mysiss may be a good start. Bigger puffers need bigger chunks of food. IMO; a diet of only flakes is inadequate for almost any fish, much less a big carnivore like your puffer. He should love pieces of raw shrimp (with shell), scallops, silversides, etc.
+1, great looking puffer, he has alot of yellow, but does not look like a juvi golden to me.
 
tonysi

tonysi

Member
deff. looks like just a really yellow dog face to me.Beautiful fish regardless.Good luck with him.
 
R

rcreations

Guest
How often should I be feeding this little guy?
Right now he's getting fed every day, almost twice a day. In the morning I feed the sargassum trigger stuff like mussels or plankton. The trigger gets most of the food, but the puffer manages to eat some of it. Then in the evening I feed the puffer chunky bits of food like krill, shrimp, squid, silversides. Should I even be feeding the puffer every day?
They'll both be in QT for another 2 - 3 weeks or so.
 
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