Picky Porcupine Puffer (suggestions?)

[schlecht13]

I must say I have seen just about everything on this thread...I would suggest just about everything that has been...The only thing I can think would be to smash up the gut loaded ghost shrimp (since that works--right --unless she gave up) rub it all over what you would try to feed - most all my puffers - even when seemingly on food strike or simply new - love fresh raw tilapia - try rubbing it on that - mussels - you seemed to have tried it all. I will say this - its a bit strange as was on accident - I noticed when I got a new little porcupine that he wouldnt eat but every morning all the other fish had little nips on all their fins - everyone except the puffer and a very small C. Epilampras - so I trapped the porcupine in a breeding framed net - would drop a few pieces of food in there to - he could of cared less. Well it turns out the toby was to blame for the bites so moved him/her and released the porcupine - after a total of 2-3 weeks he started eating bring shrimp I soaked in selcon out of nowhere...can't tell you why he decided to eat but unless he was hiding food to eat at night - he hadn't eaten for almost 3 weeks before he started---and he was so thin - needless to say he recovered quickly.....who knows...

[edmlfc1]

I am still working on her. I have been crushing the ghost shrimp so she does not have the thrill of the chase anymore. I am still trying other things. She takes a bite and spits them out. I even thought about taking a ghost shrimp head and putting it on something else to see if I can trick her that way. I'm going to try that tomorrow, who knows maybe it will work.

[schlecht13]

Creativity is the key and it sounds like you have that down Keep it up...you will get her to eat - I honestly can say I have yet to ever have a puffer starve to death - like I mentioned above (I think), I had a little porcupine puff who was a 2" baby - didn't eat for weeks and one day....turned into a little pig literally overnight - maybe he finally caught on to watching all the others "enjoy" their mushed up seafood party

[edmlfc1]

'SUCESS AT LAST''
I had to share this with everyone. I suspected that she ate a worm on the last feeding but she did it when I walked out of the room. Well this morning was feeding day and this is what I saw!




I am so excited. I was running out of ideas and ghost shrimp. We are now on our way to a long and happy life together.

[edmlfc1]

..turned into a little pig literally overnight -

My picky porc is now my "porky porc"

[crazedpuffer]

Eww worms are gross!
Nice porc though! Congrats on getting it to eat!

[Jase]

yay! glad it all worked out.

[Nick]

Yay! Another score for earthworms They're SUPER high in protein and low in fat while still being very easy to digest, better than beefheart on every front for a high protein weight gain fish food.

[Troender]

I love the pics

The puffer eating when you're not watching is what they do, I think. I remember trying to make my first puffer eat, my GSP Bolla. I was absolutely new with puffers, and was really worried because I couldn't make her eat. I was trying over and over again to make her take a prawn in a thread. The tank she was in, was one meter from my laptop. Frustrated I sat down in front of it, to ask for advice again, and turned my head to look at her. And there she was, nipping at the prawn, and then pretending to not have touched anything afterward. I wonder how many times she had done that before. I felt really stupid, being fooled by a fish!

[edmlfc1]

There's no fooling me this time. Her tummy is still full and she is now totally lazy. She's not even begging for food. If I didn't know better I would probally be worried sick about her. But this time I caught her in the act. I even caught her eating 2 giant mealworms. Of course I cheered her on and told her she was a good girl for eating her worms. No more ghost shrimp! Not even as a treat. Now if I can just get her to eat the clams and mussles all will be wonderful!

[mikeosoft]

Congrats! I'm glad to see something finally worked.

[edmlfc1]

Congrats! I'm glad to see something finally worked.

It sure took her long enough! She is eating giant mealworms now too. I told my husband that he is just going to have to live with worms in the refrigerator. He said he's getting used to finding weird things in the freezer and the refrigerator.

What would the neighbors think?
We should start a thread......What's in your frige? Live earthworms, squid, live mealworms, clams on the half shell, mussels, prawn, milk & butter.

Gotta love fish!