Porcupine Puffer Problem, please help!
- Thread starter demi7996
- Start date
squidd
Active Member
My Puffer spends about half his time resting on the bottom..about half the time hanging at the surface...and the third half swimming around the tank....
At this point, due to the stress of catch, release, moving and acclimating, he's probably in the "rest" mode, checking out his new surroundings...
Was he swimming well at the LFS when you got him...? Or did you have him "shipped in" from an on-line retailer...?
At this point, due to the stress of catch, release, moving and acclimating, he's probably in the "rest" mode, checking out his new surroundings...
Was he swimming well at the LFS when you got him...? Or did you have him "shipped in" from an on-line retailer...?
lion_crazz
Active Member
Sounds perfectly okay to me. That is what puffers do in the wild, however, in aquariums, they soon learn the process of begging at the surface for food. Give him some time.
demi7996
Member
I had him shipped in..he's on his second day at the bottom of the tank. the other fish seem to be thriving and eating already..except him. Can they go a along time without food? I checked all my levels and they are all in range. My trigger hasn't come out of hiding yet either, and my snowflake eel hasn't eaten much. But then again, it's only day 2 so I guess I'm just being impatient!
adamc1303
Active Member
My puffer did not eat for a month. Or at least I didn't see him eat for the first month. I was worrid at first but then I saw that he was fine so I figured hes gotta be eating at night. Anyway theyd o take a very loang time to get use to their enviorment and he might not eat for a while, but they are from the hardiest of saltwater fish so do not worry so much.
squidd
Active Member
Originally Posted by Demi7996
5 fish...niger trigger, purple pseudochromis,snowflake eel, and a clownfish. Do you think that was maybe the problem?
I wouldn't "directly" relate it to him staying on the bottom...
But I would be concerned with the effect on biological filtration and water quality from adding such an increase in bioload in one shot...
Monitor levels closely over the coming days and be prepared to take action if needed (WCs etc...)
5 fish...niger trigger, purple pseudochromis,snowflake eel, and a clownfish. Do you think that was maybe the problem?
I wouldn't "directly" relate it to him staying on the bottom...
But I would be concerned with the effect on biological filtration and water quality from adding such an increase in bioload in one shot...
Monitor levels closely over the coming days and be prepared to take action if needed (WCs etc...)
demi7996
Member
Got it...will do. I have just moved to a new location, with fish tank in tow. I had previous thriving fish, but sold before the move. when i arrived in my new location, my bio filter was still moist, but I had no idea how much it held up. so i guess we will see..all my fish are acting really wierd right now.
demi7996
Member
I tested my levels, all seems ok. One thing I did notice was that the nitrates were a bit higher than usual, around 20. I'm going to start the wc's tomorrow. Another thing I've noticed, was that he is an extremely active fish at night. He goes from one end of the tank to the other, full speed. But, he still won't eat. I've tried soaking the food in garlic, he kinda looked at it a bit, and swam by it. Can they go a long time without eating?
jhebi
Member
yeah..wait for a while and I believe you added to many fish in 1 time....if you are lucky you will go through or else you are heading to a bioload crash.....make some water change to lower the nitrates and cheak your parameters everyday....good luck..
your puff is just getting used to the new surrounds of your tank....give him some time.....and don't even add so many fish at once, and also is best to always QT your fishes...
your puff is just getting used to the new surrounds of your tank....give him some time.....and don't even add so many fish at once, and also is best to always QT your fishes...
unleashed
Active Member
try stick feeding him for a few days once he gets used to you feeding him he may start comming up to you for food.clear acrylic fooding stick works best.instead of saoking the food directly at fist try adding 1 drop garlic to every 10 gal of tank water.this way he will still get the garlic into his system whether he eats or not.
aquapro_1
Member
What are you trying to feed him? My dog puffer will ONLY eat whole frozen krill and anything that has a shell. I guarrantee you throw an emerald crab, he'll pick at it immediately!! Mine hates to interact with other fish. He sits at the bottom b/c the other are mid to high tank. I also find him lounging are on rocks & boat. He's too big to fit into anymore!!!
Puffers need the crunchy shells to grind down their teeth. If their "break" gets too big, they can't fit food in their mouth & well....You get the picture. I have live rock at the bottom & I see him crunching the corals!
Oh, I never see him eat. Kind of shy. Watches everything I do like a hawk!! His eyes are always looking around. Try sitting a few feet from the tank & be still. About 5 minutes after the food hits the bottom, you'll see him munch out!!
Puffers need the crunchy shells to grind down their teeth. If their "break" gets too big, they can't fit food in their mouth & well....You get the picture. I have live rock at the bottom & I see him crunching the corals!
Oh, I never see him eat. Kind of shy. Watches everything I do like a hawk!! His eyes are always looking around. Try sitting a few feet from the tank & be still. About 5 minutes after the food hits the bottom, you'll see him munch out!!
unleashed
Active Member
Originally Posted by aquapro_1
What are you trying to feed him? My dog puffer will ONLY eat whole frozen krill and anything that has a shell. I guarrantee you throw an emerald crab, he'll pick at it immediately!! Mine hates to interact with other fish. He sits at the bottom b/c the other are mid to high tank. I also find him lounging are on rocks & boat. He's too big to fit into anymore!!!
Puffers need the crunchy shells to grind down their teeth. If their "break" gets too big, they can't fit food in their mouth & well....You get the picture. I have live rock at the bottom & I see him crunching the corals!
Oh, I never see him eat. Kind of shy. Watches everything I do like a hawk!! His eyes are always looking around. Try sitting a few feet from the tank & be still. About 5 minutes after the food hits the bottom, you'll see him munch out!!
you never see your puffer eat?very weird.all puffers i have ever owned were pigs .as far as dog faced and porcs go they do have different personalities.I have only tried a porc once and i went through the same thing unfortunatly I didnt know much about these fish at all.I have heard conflicting information about porc some say very hardy fish others say not as hardy.once you get them adjusted into your system is going to make the big difference. my stars and striped was a complete pig and agressive eaterI had him for 4 yrs he was almost 14 inches when he passed away .to be totally honest most of any fish i have purchased all ate the first day in the tank.the ones that wouldnt eat are the ones that didnt survive long tg in 4 yrs that has only been 2-3 fish.when ever i add a new fish to my main tank I melafix the tank for at least days.this does help reduce stress just remove carbons for the time your using it.like a stated in above post make sure you add the garlic directly to the tank to ensure your fish are getting it into their systems.also look closely at your puffers eyes they should be a pretty blue color.if they are not ,if they have hazing or cloudyness to them then def treat with the melafix..a proper diet for your puffer would consist of krill, shrimp unpeeeled and raw,squid,scallops,i even feed my spiney boxfish puffer crablegs raw of course.and silverslides even chunks of frozen mysis shrimp I hand feed all my fish cept the eel of course so I know extacly what they are eating and how much.sinse you porc is closer relative to spiney puffer this diet should so well once you get him eating it..one caution about silverslides never buy king fish brand silverslides .the slides are to watery and to big tey have larger bones the will get stuck in your porcs mouth.I tried thia brand just once I had to physicly remove the slide from my spineys throat,that was gross lol
What are you trying to feed him? My dog puffer will ONLY eat whole frozen krill and anything that has a shell. I guarrantee you throw an emerald crab, he'll pick at it immediately!! Mine hates to interact with other fish. He sits at the bottom b/c the other are mid to high tank. I also find him lounging are on rocks & boat. He's too big to fit into anymore!!!
Puffers need the crunchy shells to grind down their teeth. If their "break" gets too big, they can't fit food in their mouth & well....You get the picture. I have live rock at the bottom & I see him crunching the corals!
Oh, I never see him eat. Kind of shy. Watches everything I do like a hawk!! His eyes are always looking around. Try sitting a few feet from the tank & be still. About 5 minutes after the food hits the bottom, you'll see him munch out!!
you never see your puffer eat?very weird.all puffers i have ever owned were pigs .as far as dog faced and porcs go they do have different personalities.I have only tried a porc once and i went through the same thing unfortunatly I didnt know much about these fish at all.I have heard conflicting information about porc some say very hardy fish others say not as hardy.once you get them adjusted into your system is going to make the big difference. my stars and striped was a complete pig and agressive eaterI had him for 4 yrs he was almost 14 inches when he passed away .to be totally honest most of any fish i have purchased all ate the first day in the tank.the ones that wouldnt eat are the ones that didnt survive long tg in 4 yrs that has only been 2-3 fish.when ever i add a new fish to my main tank I melafix the tank for at least days.this does help reduce stress just remove carbons for the time your using it.like a stated in above post make sure you add the garlic directly to the tank to ensure your fish are getting it into their systems.also look closely at your puffers eyes they should be a pretty blue color.if they are not ,if they have hazing or cloudyness to them then def treat with the melafix..a proper diet for your puffer would consist of krill, shrimp unpeeeled and raw,squid,scallops,i even feed my spiney boxfish puffer crablegs raw of course.and silverslides even chunks of frozen mysis shrimp I hand feed all my fish cept the eel of course so I know extacly what they are eating and how much.sinse you porc is closer relative to spiney puffer this diet should so well once you get him eating it..one caution about silverslides never buy king fish brand silverslides .the slides are to watery and to big tey have larger bones the will get stuck in your porcs mouth.I tried thia brand just once I had to physicly remove the slide from my spineys throat,that was gross lol
aquapro_1
Member
My pup puff is very picky. Unless I have "LIVE" inverts like the emeralds. He crushed my snails. Never eat them, just used their shells to bite. Same with my hermits. Had no desire to eat them just crushed their shells? His personality is all his. If I get near the glass to watch. He just stares at me. If I move away & keep still. The other tank mates will eat his krill & he'll go over & grab a few & place them in the corner for safe keeping. If the other guys get near, he'll blow up just enough to say "GO AWAY." I tried other stuff to feed him, but he refuses. The picasso trigger is a pig & will eat out of my hands. The pup just takes it & runs for his corner.???????????
Had him 2 yrs.
Yours got up to 14in. How long did that take? My pup was 2-3 in at the begining. You also stated 4 yrs. Is that their life span? My pup is my first.
Yours got up to 14in. How long did that take? My pup was 2-3 in at the begining. You also stated 4 yrs. Is that their life span? My pup is my first.
unleashed
Active Member
mine was about 7 inches or so when i got him give or take an inch.he was just a big puppy dog.to be honest we realy dont know what happened to him, he just puffed up one day and couldnt deflate,before i could get back from lfs with melafix to calm him he was gone
we have a feeling my niger trigger stressed him too much.if you would like to see some video of him just let me know post email and ill be glad to send you a copy.he was a camera hog lol