Better to hunt or feed?

[kingFUGU]

right now I have 1 GSP in a 10 gallon tank he is about 1.5 in. (I am aware and will upgrade to a 35gallon soon). The Ph is at 7.8, amonia 0, nitrite 0, nitratie .40, SG 1.0012 The set up in the tank consists of a rock configuration with plenty of caves and hiding spots, a little bit of dried seaweed, and a bubble wall. I have not noticed FUGU swimming up and down in one spot he is constantly moving all around and checking out the different litte hiding places in the tank. In the tank there are 3 bumble bee gobies, 3 fiddler crabs, shrimp, blue legged hermits, and snails. I know this is alot for the tank but honestly I do not feed FUGU at all. I have read alot on the GSP's and I know that if you over feed they will become fat and lazy, my question is that am i better off leaving the crabs, shrimp, snails..ect out of the tank and only feed him 2 to 3 times a week or is it better that he has the abitlity to eat at his lesure and hunt out his food like in the wild? I have not noticed any discoloration, he fades in and out of pure white belly to greyish at night to belnd in and back and forth throughout the day. He responds well when you approach the tank he comes out to look at you and put on a little show. I just want to make sure I am doing the best job possiable for FUGU to live a long healthy life. Again I just want to know if it is better to leave out the snacks for FUGU and feed him on a sechedule or is it better that the tank has food in it and he can eat and hunt at his lesure? Any questions or suggestions are welcome.......thanks

[Pufferpunk]

What are you feeding his "food"? If they are starving, then the food will have no nutritious value at all. I would definately suppliment his hunting foods with vitamin-packed alternatives.

[kingFUGU]

His food I throw in the tank little drops of the artra pods, and the little green discs, sorry I am at work i don;t have the exact names in front of me. The tank it self has been up for about 2 months now and he is doing really well though and growing well so I don't think I am too far off but you all would be the expert so let me know please.

[kingFUGU]

every once in a while he does get a cricket that has been gut loaded with nutrients for him sone freeze dried krill and blood worms also.

[Boxermom]

Please read the food article in our library.

[kingFUGU]

I have read the food article in your library, that is why I provide a variety of foods and only give certain food occasionaly.....ie crickets. Maybe I am not being clear enough, the puffer is in good condition, he is healthy and his teeth are not over grown. I do feed the food that is in the tank with healthy supplipments to provide to the puffer fish. When he is given blood worms they are dethawed first, when he is given krill I soak in in water from the tank before feeding it to him. I am providing him with PLENTY of shell foods to keep his teeth down. (fiddler crabs, blue legged hermits, and smails). Maybe I am not being clear enough....... Generally FUGU has food in his tank a few fiddler crabs, some snails, and some shrimp. I allow him to hunt this food out. depending on how long it takes usually 2 weeks or so before he cleans it all up. After this time is when I give him "treats" meaning....1 cricket, a peice of krill, or blood worms, Not all at the smae time this is usually spread out over a 2 week period. Then I restock the tank with the usual shrimp, hermits, fiddlers, ect........I am ASKING is it better for FUGU to have the food at his fins and allow him to hunt and eat as he feels is needed or should I just feed him on a sechedule.

[Myaj]

Personally, I would say feeding on a schedule is more healthy.

Puffers can get too fat if allowed to eat too much, and some have even been known to eat until they expode if too much food is offered. Your guy is used to feeding when he's hungry, and not overdoing it, but he could also be eating too much.

Also, its easier to monitor if they are off (not wanting to eat) and get treated food into them, etc when they are used to a scheduled feeding.

Neither way is wrong though, just a personal preference. I actually do it just the opposite of you, I feed my puffers a scheduled feeding, then when they are full, sometimes I throw in a bunch of snails or shrimp from my planted tanks for them to hunt down over the next few days. But its more to give them a bit of exercise and stimulation, not so much of a meal, since they are so small.

[kingFUGU]

Cool, thanks. I can see it working either way also. Thanks for the Help!