Puffer ate my duster???

[puff0224]

I have had a porcupine puffer for about 7 months now and I recently added a feather duster. I had wanted something new for my tank and I figured a feather duster was just the right addition. I have hermit crabs, an emerald crab, polyps...none of which my puffer had taken any interest in. My puffer does not seem to have any aggression in him, nor does he seem to want to socialize or consume any other living creature in the tank. However, I placed the new 5 inch duster in the sand last night and when I awoke this morning at 6:30am my duster was completely gone. The only thing remaining was a 1/2 inch stump emerging from the sand. So did my puffer eat the entire thing?? Hes only about 4 inches so the large duster would have been a huge meal for him. The only other fish in my tank are a blue damsel and a dragon goby. Anything else could have happend to the duster?? Do puffers typically like dusters??

 

[kingsmith]

It might still be buried in the sand I dont know if the puffer would have attacked it but I have had dusters dissapear then re appear down the line

 

[hlcroghan]

I think this is correct. They can pull inside if they are stressed and then come back out later to eat. Try putting some food in the tank and see if it comes back out.

 

[stdreb27]

I'm assuming the puffer in the picture? I'd say your puffer ate your duster. They like chewing on things. And that had a tasty little snack inside. What do you think they have that beak for? Breaking shells and stuff like feather duster's tube.

 

[kjr_trig]

Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/2766378
I'm assuming the puffer in the picture? I'd say your puffer ate your duster. They like chewing on things. And that had a tasty little snack inside. What do you think they have that beak for? Breaking shells and stuff like feather duster's tube.
Agreed, poky puffers are not above sampling anything and everything. Thermometers, powerheads, feather dusters, rocks....

 

[salt210]

my puffer ate one. he leaves the hermits alone tho

 

[zeke92]

My toby puffer ate every single one of my tiny white dusters. And loved them. I think it's just a natural food, and dusters would be very healthy due to all the nutrients they keep in them for there tube and such i'm sure.

 

[puff0224]

Thanks all! I suppose its safe to say that my puffer had a nice meal last night

I understand that dusters can pull their crown in when threatened and sometimes even throw their crown...however the duster's entire tube is gone. So i believe the worm itself, along with his tube, is inside my puffer's belly. I guess I learned that maybe my porc isnt so affraid to taste new additions.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/2766392
Agreed, poky puffers are not above sampling anything and everything. Thermometers, powerheads, feather dusters, rocks....

.....and lionfish fins, fingers, chunks of just about any tankmate (look for the tell-tale semi-circular bite mark on your favorite, and probably most expensive, fish), anything remotely resembling food, and anything not resembling food. Great fish though!

 

[prime311]

And pity the fool with a Puffer in an acrylic tank

 

[fatcat]

Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2766605
And pity the fool with a Puffer in an acrylic tank

Why???

 

[small triggers]

cause they can use the tank to sharpen their teeth.

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by FaTcAt
http:///forum/post/2766770
Why???

A lot of times puffers pace the tank. Or rub up against it, and a lot of time they swim with their beaks exposed. This will scratch the crap out of a tank, even a glass one.