The Puffer Forum

I have a dwarf puffer in a relatively heavily planted Fluval Edge 6gallon.

I've been tossing in pond snails from my display tank each day (darned if I can find the shells, though...). Periodically, I'd like to feed bloodworms. But it seems that the bloodworms sink to the bottom before the DP ever sees them--the vertical size of the tank is partly an issue, as well as the fact that with the way the Edge is designed, by default the worms will be put in near the HOB, where there's a downward current.

Are there any tricks to feeding them bloodworms?

Cone feeder.

Cone feeder is great for feeding live worms, but not so great for frozen/thawed.

Assuming these are frozen/thawed you're asking about, then turning off or unplugging the filter at feeding time can be helpful. You can also feed one worm at a time as the DP eats them, which, while time-consuming, is a nice way to teach him/her to recognize that you're the source of good things.

Uneaten or missed worms can be siphoned off the tank floor with a turkey baster.

I have seen them fed with a pipette.

Here is a helpful "how to" modify a pipette as a blood-worm feeder - video.

2:29



materials list:

"Materials (from Amazon.com):

Pipettes - Karter Scientific 206H3 3ml Graduated Transfer Pipette, Cap 7ml, 1/2ml Grads, 155mm (Pack of 100)

Suction cups (not exact but something like this) - Jardin Suction Cup Airline Tube 20-Piece Holders/Clips/Clamps for Aquarium, Clear"

Yes, I should have said: frozen bloodworms.

OK, I tried a cone feeder. Not sure if my DP actually got anything from it, though he pecked at it a few times... then spiraled downwards and nabbed himself a snail.

As far as the pipette... those were live worms. I think a pipette would have the same issue as the cone feeder, that of my puffer having trouble getting to the worms.

defrost & rinse bloodworms
dump them into a small container with a little tank water
this is a good time to add vitamins
suck up with eyedropper or pipette & release into tank
feed a little at a time

Cone feeder for black worms. Pipette or "dump" feedeing for bloodworms. Both start the same way. Thaw the frozen worms then dose with a high quality vitamin like vitachem. The pipette method; take the vitamin soaked mixture into the pipette and feed untill the little puffs are full. Dump method is to dump the thawed vitamin dosed mixture into the tank. The dump method will cause higher nitrates if food goes un-eaten but is what I go for as I am crazy with my WC regiment.

When I feed bloodworms, I use long tweezers. Not all of them are interested if the food falls to the ground, they want it to float! Probably looks more alive this way. So I release small amounts of worms from the tweezer when the puffs approach, and they dig in. I pick up some more, and repeat when they have finished eating the previous ones. What's left is later eaten by those who don't mind picking food from the ground, and by the amanos. I like this routine of spending some "quality time" with them

I use a pipette

It took me a week before by DPs decided to touch frozen bloodworms. I used a pipette and began juggling the thawed worms until one of them took the bait. Not 30 seconds later the whole tank became a feeding frenzy and they were eating 'em like ramen noodles. Yours will get it, just keep making them look tasty!