porcupine puffer

[cajundolphin]

I just got home with my new baby, a porcupine puffer. He is soooo cute! His name is Gizmo. He is about 3 inches. I know they need hard shell food to keep their teeth short but is there anyone that can tell me ANYTHING else I may need to know to keep him healthy and comfy!

 

[ccampbell57]

Originally Posted by cajundolphin
I just got home with my new baby, a porcupine puffer. He is soooo cute! His name is Gizmo. He is about 3 inches. I know they need hard shell food to keep their teeth short but is there anyone that can tell me ANYTHING else I may need to know to keep him healthy and comfy!
Great choice on the fish!!! My puffer was my favorite fish of all time! I had him for 3 years and he was over 7" when he passed unexpectedly.
Here are some tips for him:
- Feed him a variety of meaty foods (krill, clam, crab, etc...)
- Get him to eat veggies right off the bat
- Hiding place - make sure he finds one that he can chill out in at night or when you introduce a new fish
- Make sure the fish you introduce are double/tripple the size of his mouth or he will eat them (like my school of chromis)
Have fun with him.

 

[dragonzim]

Not to rain on your parade, but I hope he's not going into your 55 gallon tank. He will outgrow that in no time!

 

[cajundolphin]

he is in my 55gal right now but I am getting my 125gal out of storage this weekend and start it cycling for him.

 

[dragonzim]

Originally Posted by cajundolphin
he is in my 55gal right now but I am getting my 125gal out of storage this weekend and start it cycling for him.
Cool!

 

[limitedslip]

go to a local grocery store, and buy a gumbo mix, mine has shrimp, clam, squid, octopus, and nautilis.
if you interact with your puffer at an early age, itll love to play with you ^^. mine likes to chase my finger, bumps into it, run away until I touch it, and then he goes after my finger again, he also spits water outa the top of the tank when he wants attention.

 

[grabbitt]

Originally Posted by Limitedslip
go to a local grocery store, and buy a gumbo mix, mine has shrimp, clam, squid, octopus, and nautilis.
if you interact with your puffer at an early age, itll love to play with you ^^. mine likes to chase my finger, bumps into it, run away until I touch it, and then he goes after my finger again, he also spits water outa the top of the tank when he wants attention.
My stars-n-stripes chases my finger, too

...Then he bites

 

[crabsrkewl]

Originally Posted by cajundolphin
I just got home with my new baby, a porcupine puffer. He is soooo cute! His name is Gizmo. He is about 3 inches. I know they need hard shell food to keep their teeth short but is there anyone that can tell me ANYTHING else I may need to know to keep him healthy and comfy!
Awwwwwwww can i see a picture

 

[cajundolphin]

Gizmo my new puffer!

 

[ccampbell57]

Originally Posted by cajundolphin
Gizmo my new puffer!
He is great! Keep him healthy and you will have the fish version of a dog for a long time!

 

[cajundolphin]

how much do i feed him? I keep hearing not to overfeed but how much is overfeeding? I cant get him to eat anything right now. He has been home for 2 days now and nothing. I put a frozen shrimp in but he doesnt acknoledge it and its been in there for hours so I guess I should take it out. Any advice, anyone?