Trying to Toughen My Puffers

[the puffer guy]

Ok ive got a valentini, leopard, and pork puffer. I would like to make them more aggressive...
My current feeding schedule:
7 AM: Frozen Krill
12 PM: Flake Food/Freeze-Dried Krill
5 PM: Salad Shrimp/ Live Ghost Shrimp
Throughout (sp?) the Day: Freeze-Dried Krill
Any suggestions? ty

 

[aquaknight]

Giving them an adequate place to live?
(You knew that one was coming....)

 

[ophiura]

Buy different fish. Puffers are not in general particularly "aggressive" fish.

 

[the puffer guy]

Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/2638957
Giving them an adequate place to live?
(You knew that one was coming....)
I did... Look, im going 2 upgrade, i just cant afford right now... Plz just give me advice

 

[ophiura]

I think you will find that this question, combined with your previous history, will only reinforce the opinions people have.
I don't think these are particularly good sorts of questions to ask when you are asking for respect.

 

[the puffer guy]

Respect is not what im looking for... Im looking for help. Now please give it to me. If you dont post to help me out here, the way i see it, you are simply spamming.

 

[ophiura]

I gave you advice. Get different fish..in your different tanks. Puffers are not particularly "aggressive" in the way you expect them to be. Triggers, large wrasses, groupers...those are more aggressive fish.
Believe it or not there are people on this board with a lot of experience, and you are not listening to them.

 

[the puffer guy]

I understand that you gave me advice... I believe that you misunderstood that last post... You said that i shouldnt ask a question like this if i want respect. I said i dont care about respect and that the people who only post o make fun of me are spamming for their post count, which in itself gives them respect. I want nothing to do with respect on any forum because it is so often derived from spamming for post count.

 

[ophiura]

Additionally you are feeding them far to often, probably leading to significant water quality issues and definitely not making them particularly active feeders.
Puffers don't even need to be fed daily, let alone 3+ times a day. I would stop doing that, and I would also ensure they get hard items to chew on - shrimp with shells, snails, crabs, etc in addition to the ghost shrimp, or they will develop tooth problems.

 

[ophiura]

I think if you take a look to see my history on this board, it is a bit silly to claim I am saying that to boost my post count.
If that is what you believe...I suggest that some people post just because, and some people post things you don't want to hear because you actually need to hear it. That is not fun or pleasant but important to know.

 

[the puffer guy]

Yes, i let them chew on the crabs and snails and rocks. Also, the puffers eat all fo the food. Occasionally there will be some freeze dried krill left over, but i take it out. Water change every week. Filters are cleaned every week.
But, i appreciate your input, and ill definitley ask around at my lfs.

 

[the puffer guy]

Sincerest apologies 4 the double- post, but is there anything past feeding that could help me with toughening them up?

 

[aqua_scaping]

ophiura before you offer him help you should know he has all those puffers in a 28 gallon......he wont listen to anyone on the forms that their is too many fish

before buying food he has to get them from killing each other for space...

 

[the puffer guy]

Did i not just say i would take her advice into account? And im quite sure she knows about my tank. And i said im going to upgrade. And i have stated on another thread that ive started listening. So before you slander me about not listening to others: READ THE ENTIRE THREAD!

 

[aqua_scaping]

im not slandering you...althought your upgrading your current fish are still stressed and you want them to stay as passive as you can.....if they become agessive your porky will win........im just trying to prevent major losses for you

 

[the puffer guy]

Well, thank you for the advice, but your last post was not in any way. shape, or form an attempt to help me. Now, im afraid i dont quite understand wat u mean about the stress. Care to explain?
ty

 

[usirchchris]

I agree with some of the above posts as far as puffer aggressiveness...they really aren't. They can hold their own against agressive fish, but generally are not the instigators in my experience. I have a valentini, and a porc, and they are not aggressive at all. (not sure what a leopard is...unless you mean eel) If you want aggressive get a trigger or some damsels lol, but all in all, I don't really understand what you mean by making them tougher...are you talking about live feeding? What is your objective here?
As a side note...I would stop feeding freeze dried krill...since this is not the only thing on the menu it may not be that bad, but there have been reports that diets with freezedried krill (being the only food) can lead to lockjaw in puffers. The puffers can't open their mouth or can't close, thus they starve to death. Like I said may not be terrible because you are feeding other things as well, but I would not chance it. JMHO.

 

[the puffer guy]

Thank you for your advice, and i understand the definition of lockjaw, but thank you. Im planning on stopping with the freeze dried because of this as son as i run out on the jar i have. A leopard puffer is a brakish water fish also known as the green-spotted puffer or green puffer. And my bros pork ate his hawaiian blue puffer a few months ago (not sure how he survived that one), i dont know if its normal for that amount of aggressiveness. As i upgrade my tank, i will add fish like triggers to the tank, and i want my puffers to be ready for them. Also, since you have basically answered my question (they should be able to hold their own) i have another:
I just got my valentini tuesday and he doesnt eat much... suggestions?

 

[usirchchris]

Originally Posted by The Puffer Guy
http:///forum/post/2639108
Thank you for your advice, and i understand the definition of lockjaw, but thank you. Im planning on stopping with the freeze dried because of this as son as i run out on the jar i have. A leopard puffer is a brakish water fish also known as the green-spotted puffer or green puffer. And my bros pork ate his hawaiian blue puffer a few months ago (not sure how he survived that one), i dont know if its normal for that amount of aggressiveness. As i upgrade my tank, i will add fish like triggers to the tank, and i want my puffers to be ready for them. Also, since you have basically answered my question (they should be able to hold their own) i have another:
I just got my valentini tuesday and he doesnt eat much... suggestions?
My valentini, doesn't eat alot as compared to my other puffers (porc and stars and stripes) for obvious reasons...It's just a small puffer. Mine just kind of grazes along the live rock all day, eating copepods I suppose, or snipping at the bristleworms. I would not worry...I have had mine for about a year and he is the same, just does not eat that much even in comparison to other fish its size.

 

[the puffer guy]

ty i do feel better... however, im still a bit concerned, because the leopard is about the same size, and is a pig. But i wont worry. Mine also nips at the sand alot.