HELP new porcupine puffer not aeting

[lanna2213]

Bought new puffer Friday and has no t eaten yet !!!! Tried Krill, cut up Shrimp
flake food frozen food any ideas ?

 

[grabberblue67]

My friend has one of these fish and first congratulations on the new Fish. When he first got it - there was an eating problem as well so he had to force feed it by breaking up the krill - grabbing the puffer and putting small pieces in its mouth. After it ate for the first few times it started taking to the krill by itself and lived happily ever after.

 

[leftyblite]

Mine didn't eat either for the first few days. He was contantly exploring the tank(I'm assuming just acclimating himself). After about 3-4 days i finally got him to eat silversides soaked in garlic. Since then i've had no problem in feeding him. Good luck!

 

[who dey]

these fish need tough foods. Their teeth need to be filed down or they will grow to the point they cannot open their mouth and eat anymore.

 

[who dey]

would recommend feeding live shrimp utilizing their shells to file down teeth

 

[leftyblite]

I also feed mine clams and shrinp plus the occasional snail and or hermit crab that he tends to hunt now and then

 

[lanna2213]

If I try to force feed him won't he puff up . Don't want him to be more stressed out then he is . But it would make me very happy even if he took one bite .

 

[fishn808]

Originally Posted by lanna2213
If I try to force feed him won't he puff up . Don't want him to be more stressed out then he is . But it would make me very happy even if he took one bite .
Eventually he'll eat and boy will he eat. As suggested, try raw shrimp WITH the skin...

 

[lanna2213]

Tried raw shrimp but not with the shell on . Even put it on a wooden chop stick and put it in front of his face !!

 

[stdreb27]

Mine will eat anything, but his definately favorite is oysters, he goes nuts when I throw them in.

 

[leftyblite]

Just give him a few days, and he will be eating non stop and then begging for more. I helped my 5 year old feed him once and now when he sees her near the tank he always tries to get her to give him some. Luckily she cant open the tank herself cause I secured it for that reason. Good luck!

 

[lanna2213]

well guy tahnks for all your help . But I lost him this moring i just could not get him to eat even got the feeder shrimp but he just moved away from them

Lanna

 

[leftyblite]

So sorry for your loss>

 

[dragonzim]

Sorry for your loss. I would guess he had some other issues. I can't see him starving to death in a week....

 

[nrr15]

I want to add question to Original post:
Do Puffers feed at night better than day time? My roommates puffer doesn't seem to be active till acentics and eventually moon lights come on are they nocturnal feeders by nature?

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by NRR15
I want to add question to Original post:
Do Puffers feed at night better than day time? My roommates puffer doesn't seem to be active till acentics and eventually moon lights come on are they nocturnal feeders by nature?
Yeah, they are nocturnal. Mine for a very long time wouldn't come out during the day at all. he just now is starting to.