Feeding Puffers

[matt748]

Does anyone have any tips on feeding a Monotrete Palembangis/ Semi Lurking Puffer other than live food?
I have bought some frozen mussles and cockles bu have no idea how to get the fish to eat them without just dropping them in the tank and hoping for the best.
Matt

[Mareva]

I'm no expert on that type of puffer, but I've heard often that putting a string around your thawed shrimp and making it move in front of the puff often works. Then when he sees a shrimp again he knows it's good stuff so eventualy you can stop using the string.
Good luck!

[matt748]

So i have dangled a mussel, i have dangled a cockle, i have placed a mussel on a skewer, i have placed a cockle on a stick and now i am dangling a fantastic looking king prawn in front of my great little puffer but he's having none of it.
I really don't want him to depend on live food and i don't want him to starve either.
What can i do to get this little guy to eat???
If i leave the food in the tank will he eventually eat it or just starve??

Can anyone help me solve this problem?????
Am i panicking for absolutely nothing???
Oh yes, Hes a Palembag/ Semi Lurker at abput 4 inches long and last ate about 4 ghost shrimp (live) on Saturday Morning!

Matt

[blondenblue]

HI i have a lurker, i brought a pair of grabbers for plants (abit like giant tongs) from my lfs i wait till he is hungry (he changes colour to match the sand and if i put my fingers on the glass he charges at them) then hold the food in the grabbers and move them around in the tank abit, he watches it then i drop it near him and he normally eats it before it gets to the bottom, if he doesn't i can just pick it out with the grabbers!

Lisa

[matt748]

Thanks for the help. I am probably worrying over nothing as usual and as we disscussed before, learning every day!
I just can't seem to get him to take any interest in anything i put in front of him at the moment.
I think i am as frustrated as i am worrried because i really want the best for this little fish.

Sad but True,
As mettalica once said.

Matt

[Myaj]

If you haven't already, read the articles about feeding puffers in the library, there may be a few things to help you in there.

My lurker species tends to only eat every 4 days or so.. and often will go longer if he's mad at me. I would let yours get plenty hungry, then only offer "dead" food. Don't leave the food in there, as it will just rot and pollute the tank if he doesn't eat it right away.

I feed mine a mixture of live and dead foods.. his main diet is thawed out raw shrimp (human food), then he also gets ramshorn snails and nightcrawlers. Those might be some good options for you, as you don't have to worry as much about bringing in parasites and diseases as you do with live feeder shrimp or fish.

[Rocker]

I have had a few palembangs and I must admit they are the hardest to get to feed. Its early days but with palembangs they cannot resist the attraction of a wriggling earthworm. drop one infront of him and walk away. Observe from a distance. Eventually he will take it and then start to introduce one on tongs. After a while you can change to mussel or prawn as the puffer will get used to and associate the tongs with food.

[Happy_Puffer]

I'm no expert on puffers and I don't have the kind of puffer you have but my F8 and GSP eat freeze dried foods. If they don't eat the floating food I get my plant grabbers( like someone said already) and I put some krill or plankton and then move it around the outside of the tank first to let them know food is coming and then I move it around inside the tank so they can chase it. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't but I find its the most fun way to feed them. Some times I don't even need the grabbers I will just dangle it in there with my hand but watch out because mine bite!! I hope this helps!