What do puffers eat?

fallelick

fallelick

Member
Let's see. Yesterday I somehow ended up with a puffer (extremely long story the point is I now have it). I have no idea what to feed it or if it will even get along with it's tankmates.
I have:
4 small mushrooms
3 blueleg hermit crabs
1 turbo snail
2 peppermint shrimp
1 large feather duster
1 baby feather duster
1 domino damsel
1 blue damsel
1 long tentacle anemone
2 condi anemones
The puffer is only 3 inches long but i'm guessing it will get bigger. I don't want this thing to die. Any help?
 
fallelick

fallelick

Member
Originally Posted by dingo0722
he will have fun eating your inverts.
You can feed him shrimp and other frozen foods

What exactly will he eat? So far he hasn't messed with anything and how do I feed it? Can I get shrimp like from the grocery store or will it eat silversides? Just chop things up and throw them in or what?
 
dingo0722

dingo0722

Member
Jumbo shrimp from the grocer. Years ago when I had one thats what I fed him. You can even leave the shell on as then like to munch on it.
Keep a close eye on him though. As he gets comfortable there is a very good chance he will go after you livestock
 
sxy_kya_06

sxy_kya_06

Member
I have the same puffer. Mine eill eat brine, krill, shrimp, flakes. Anything. My star polyps. I buy my food from my local fish store. IF you have bristol worms, he will eat them too.
They are a geat addition. Just make sure to leave the shells on the shrimp and stuff. This will help its teeth. Help trim them down..
 
itom37

itom37

Member
That's a hawaiian blue spotted puffer (or a very similar member of the toby family). It won't get much bigger, as these puffers stay relatively small. It'll probably eat your inverts at some point, but some don't. Feeding it well will probably help. I have the same fish, and mine loves krill. He'll eat a little brine and mysis, but he really enjoys tearing up a krill. Be careful with those damsels. I have a feeling they'll try to steal his food. There's a thread in the fish discussion section about what to feed a valentini. The answers to that thread should be more or less identical.
 
fallelick

fallelick

Member
I have some dried krill that I used to feed my other fish. Would that work or does it have to be frozen? Also do you have to chop it up or throw it in there whole? And what inverts is it a danger to? lol I'm so clueless on this thing.
 
sxy_kya_06

sxy_kya_06

Member
LIke I said, I have the same one. He ate some hermits, crabs, stars, and snails. Some one said if you keep them fed well. He is fat and happy but he will try to eat them. Just be careful. They are omivores. Mine does not seem to be an aggressive eater, so... try a varity of things. AS said before be careful with the damsels. I got rid of all mine.
 
dingo0722

dingo0722

Member
toss the food in whole. They have a very strong beak that will have no problem breaking up whole shrimp.
They like to munch on stuff like LR and shells. They do this to keep their teeth sharp and short. In nature the break open the shells of crabs, snails and what ever they find to eat whats inside so they should be considered a threat to all inverts in your tank.
This is the only reason I don’t have a porcupine puffer, which is my favorite fish, is that it will destroy my tank
 
fallelick

fallelick

Member
Great....well just a few more questions..
What size shrimp? precooked or not? I just bought a rock with 2 baby feather dusters, a very small crab, and a tiny tiny starfish will he eat those?
Thanks for all the help
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by Fallelick
Great....well just a few more questions..
What size shrimp? precooked or not? I just bought a rock with 2 baby feather dusters, a very small crab, and a tiny tiny starfish will he eat those?
Thanks for all the help
Raw shrimp, their diet consists of mainly inverts. Their beak is for crushing shells. I'd say 9 times out of 10 probably slimmer, your fish will decimate your invert population.
 
fallelick

fallelick

Member
Yesterday I noticed that he was eating some flakes I put in the tank and brine shrimp. Should I just get rid of it? It has a really small mouth I don't see how it could eat my crabs and such. Are my shrimp ok because they are pretty big. And what about the feather dusters?
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by Fallelick
http:///forum/post/2450387
Yesterday I noticed that he was eating some flakes I put in the tank and brine shrimp. Should I just get rid of it? It has a really small mouth I don't see how it could eat my crabs and such. Are my shrimp ok because they are pretty big. And what about the feather dusters?
The puffer can, and probably will, eat your shrimp & crabs--one bite at a time. You can't change nature, that's mainly what they eat. In captivity, they'll eat almost anything, but need the hard shells of raw shrimp & such to keep their ever-growing beak trimmed. But, bottom line, if you keep it; it will eat your crabs & shrimp and take bites out of the other inverts.
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
It depends what you like more, snails and shrimp or a cute blue eyed puffer that will eat out of your hand and say hi when you want into the room.
 
kanicky

kanicky

Member
It's already been said that he may or may not eat your hermits/snails. It all depends on the temperment of the fish. That said, most puffers will munch on your "clean-up crew."
I have both a Valentini and a Fiji Puffer and they like to mess with the hermits and snails every once in a while. I make sure to keep them well-fed with (raw) krill, shrimp, and clams, as well as Emerald Entree, Mysis Shrimp and Spectrum Pellets.
They do have small mouths, yes, but that doesn't mean that they won't try to pick at your hermits and/or snails.
If you really value having your snails/hermits, then yes, give him to someone who wants him, otherwise, they're really great fish and full of character!!
 
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