New Member/ Porcupine Puffer?????

jcsu2002 · Feb 22, 2005

Im new to the board and I have gathered some great information about saltwater fishes from the informative people on this board. Thanks! I have purchased a porky puffer about 4 days ago, and the little guy is not eating. It hides in the corner of the tank behind the LR while the other fish are chowing down. I spoke with an experienced aquarist and he advised that it might take a week for my puffer to get acclimated to me feeding it, and it is common for him not to go after the food in the first week. Have any of you had the same experience with new puffer? I have tried to feed it mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and plan on purchasing krill later.

tome · Feb 22, 2005

he may not eat for a week. But definetly try freeze dried krill. They need it to keep there teeth filed down.

zemuro114 · Feb 22, 2005

entice with live foods, then when he gets comfortable start with frozen. Buy a clam at the grocery store and drop it by where he is. He may or may not eat it. What else is in the tank?

jcsu2002 · Feb 22, 2005

I havent tried the live foods yet, and will head to the store this morning. The other fish in the aqarium: 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 yellow tang, 1 blue hippo, 1 foxface lo, and 1 koran angel which was added at the same time as the puffer.

zemuro114 · Feb 23, 2005

yeah try a goldfish (dont feed him this regularly just to start eating) nothing in your tnak will try to eat the goldfish so the puffer "should" eat it. Mine would only eat live for a while then i switched to frozen which he didn't take right away. But he got hungry so he ate it, noe eats frozen like its his job

zemuro114 · Feb 23, 2005

what size tank is this in by the way??

dan hanna · Feb 23, 2005

:happy: i feed my porky puffer goldfish an guppies all the time along with a handful of frozen foods:happyfish good luck they are awsome fish when they are happy

mbrands · Feb 23, 2005

I've heard of people feeding puffers live ghost shrimp.

dan hanna · Feb 23, 2005

Originally posted by mbrands
I've heard of people feeding puffers live ghost shrimp.

never tried live ghost shrimp but i think i'll give it a shot... but if he dies i'll be wanting to talk to u!!

mbrands · Feb 23, 2005

Hey now. I didn't say I've done it or recommend it . . . just that I've heard of it. Let me know how it goes though.

texasex · Feb 23, 2005

I read someone posted to feed you Porcupine puffer, goldfish, not recommended! You really shouldn't feed him anything that he wouldn't eat in nature. Sorry, no goldfish in the ocean!

And, since you have other fish in with him, you wouldn't want him to decide that they make a good snack! They can start to nibble on the fins of other fish, even ones that are as big as he is (though they are as a general rule, extremely gentle). I had one for a long time and absolutely loved him! They have wonderful personalities, and mine loved for me to feed him. Watch out for the teeth! I feed mine brine shrimp, frozen, and he loved it. Since he isn't eating, ask the guy who you got him from what he was feeding him. Sometimes they are picky eaters and don't like to change their diet. Watch him though, they can starve to death in a week or two, make sure his sides aren't shrunken in and look for any signs of disease or sickness that might be making him not feel well and not eat. Hope this helps, and good luck!

jcsu2002 · Feb 24, 2005

Thanks for your help, I have tried the frozen krill, and he at least went for that

. I think that the porky is going to be alright. His attitude has also changed, because he is now swiming around with the other fish and not stationary. I went back to the store where I got him from and the guy said that he feeds all of the porkys brine shrimp, krill, and squid. Since the other fish in the tank enjoy the krill also I figure that I will stick with that for a while until he gets used to the feeding. I dont want to over feed the tank.