Puffer eating habits

[denisec]

My Valentini is about 3 inches total lenght and about 2 without his tail. I have had him a week and he seems nice and healthy but is being picky about eating. He will eat frozen bloodworms and today I found out that he likes small chuncks of ready to eat shrimp. He picks at it and eats it. He spitts some of it back out, I have heard that puffers are messy eaters, is that is what is going on? I got to think he likes it as he keeps right on eating on it. Also is this "people" shrimp and blood worms a good diet for him? He doesn't like frozen brine shrimp or formula one.

 

[grouperhead]

yeah thats how they eat. here are some other foods i can suggest for him as a good diet, silversides, krill, squid, clams, formulas 1 and 2, prime reef, and trigger/agressive formula. try some of these. im sure hell eat them. and yes they are very messy eaters, they will eat, and then spit it out and repeat this over and over again. bo

 

[denisec]

PS: About how big should I expect him to get? I have read about 4 to 5 inches, does that include his tail?

 

[grouperhead]

yes, that includes the tail. 4-5 inches should be about right, give or take an inch. bo

 

[pufferlover]

Grouper is correct on all he said. Puffs to me next to Triggers are the messiest eaters but by far they never know when to stop they will eat themselves into oblivion if given the chance. I have seen some fed so much they fall to bottom and lay there for a day or two till they digest it all.