Hello, in my search to give my baby puffer the best I found your site. I am almost positive that I have a Dog Face puffer, but then again the ocean in full of surprises!
He is currently about 1-1 1/2 inches. Eating very well, PE Mysis. He is currently in a 12 gallon nano..which save the lecture I know is too small in the long run. BUT until he gets slight bigger, and gets use to hand feedings it is best for him to be in a smaller environment where I can better monitor his eating/swimming/ect habits. He is very shy and have just been able to get him to eat from a turkey baster. It may sound weird but this way I do not have to over load the tank with extra food and I know exactly how much he is eating.
His current tank mates are a small yellow goby and a tank bred clown...who mostly eat the mess of PE he throws around. A few hermits, vibex, and astrea, 12 lbs LR and a few shrooms and zoas as well.
As soon as he gets a bit bigger he will have his own 100 gallon or bigger tank. Just haven't found the right one for a fish only.
And do not be alarmed...I am not new to saltwater or fish tanks in general. I am the proud owner of a 54 corner that is a seahorse only tank, as well as a 110 reef that we are adding a 160 gallon sump/fuge on in the very near future. We also have a small freshwater, and a small turtle tank as well.....
So I am really only new to Puffers but have always wanted one. When I saw this little guy I just melted, and could not pass it up...especially since we already plan on adding a fish only tank soon!
I have a few questions and will be searching the site for ideas, concerns, and info.
I look forward to getting to know you all better and learning as much as I can about my new puppy!
xxoo
Hello
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~.:Olive:.~
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 5:35 pm
- Location: 34609
Hello
~.:Olive:.~
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puffermama
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:18 pm
Hi.
I'm new to Puffers as well and have been trying various ways of feeding that don't cause too much mess and allow both my puffers to get an equal share of the food. At first one got dominant and hogged a bit but I found that by using wooden skewers and threading cockles on them they each could tug from different sides. The same went for bits of raw shrimp (prawn) shell-on, except they loved that so much I was afraid they wouldn't stop, so had to take the rest out. They love chasing around the mysis shrimp in the current of the filter which again spreads the food evenly but that causes a lot of residue as well, so I like the idea of the turkey baster. A bit like bottle-feeding isn't it?
Susanna
I'm new to Puffers as well and have been trying various ways of feeding that don't cause too much mess and allow both my puffers to get an equal share of the food. At first one got dominant and hogged a bit but I found that by using wooden skewers and threading cockles on them they each could tug from different sides. The same went for bits of raw shrimp (prawn) shell-on, except they loved that so much I was afraid they wouldn't stop, so had to take the rest out. They love chasing around the mysis shrimp in the current of the filter which again spreads the food evenly but that causes a lot of residue as well, so I like the idea of the turkey baster. A bit like bottle-feeding isn't it?
Susanna
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~.:Olive:.~
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 5:35 pm
- Location: 34609
it is like bottle feeding..he is so small and shy I felt it was best so I can be sure he is eating.
I do not know where to get cockles....and he refuses anything other then mysis as I have tried krill on a skewer, brine, and a prepared fozen mix...PE mysis is all he will take. Which is fine considering there nutritional guarantee. I have seen or noticed a fe snail shells with missing pieces....but all my snails are still alive.
At first the baster did seem slightly stressful, I had to hold really still and just let one mysis out at a time..after teh 3rd feeding he realized where the food come from and often bites at the end of the baster and trying to grab a mysis before it even it out of the tip. But even now if I move it too fast he will run away! I have only had him about a week, so it is still work in progress. I feed all my fishies with a baster....that way I know everyone eats!!!
To avoid residue, which I use to get a lot of in my horse tank....thaw teh mysis, dain them, then fill with water, drain, then feed...it really helps! Bit more work but helps!
Where should I look for cockles? Do you feed snails? If so what kind?
xxoo
I do not know where to get cockles....and he refuses anything other then mysis as I have tried krill on a skewer, brine, and a prepared fozen mix...PE mysis is all he will take. Which is fine considering there nutritional guarantee. I have seen or noticed a fe snail shells with missing pieces....but all my snails are still alive.
At first the baster did seem slightly stressful, I had to hold really still and just let one mysis out at a time..after teh 3rd feeding he realized where the food come from and often bites at the end of the baster and trying to grab a mysis before it even it out of the tip. But even now if I move it too fast he will run away! I have only had him about a week, so it is still work in progress. I feed all my fishies with a baster....that way I know everyone eats!!!
To avoid residue, which I use to get a lot of in my horse tank....thaw teh mysis, dain them, then fill with water, drain, then feed...it really helps! Bit more work but helps!
Where should I look for cockles? Do you feed snails? If so what kind?
xxoo
~.:Olive:.~
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puffermama
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:18 pm
I get the cockles from the frozen foods section of my LFS. They seem to get a lot of frozen stuff from The Netherlands, Dutch stuff. At first the store recommended the ones that come pre-prepared, in frozen little squares, but then I saw they had whole ones, frozen, not with shell on unfortunately, but they made a change. I tried giving them live whole mussels with the shell on but they're still too little. I got those from the fish counter at the supermarket where we buy our own food. Same with the prawns.
Yes, I do give them some snails but I have to give my little tank time to restock on the slightly bigger ones. I have a tiny little tank with tiny fish: guppies, diamond tetras and one little bottom feeder. I used to fight to keep the snails out, now there never seem to be enough.
I net up as many as I can find on the plants and glass and put them in the puffer tank but I have yet to see one in there afterwards. What there is, is little round holes in the java fern. It's starting to look like green emmenthal cheese. But it's brilliant stuff anyway, I think it is absorbing all the nitrates. I could be wrong but that's my guess.
If you prepare a small, bright, warmish tank with just some plants in, I'm sure you'd get lots of snails just the right size for your little puffer.
Post some pics sometime, if you can. Mine are still very camera-shy, but I'll keep trying.
Yes, I do give them some snails but I have to give my little tank time to restock on the slightly bigger ones. I have a tiny little tank with tiny fish: guppies, diamond tetras and one little bottom feeder. I used to fight to keep the snails out, now there never seem to be enough.
I net up as many as I can find on the plants and glass and put them in the puffer tank but I have yet to see one in there afterwards. What there is, is little round holes in the java fern. It's starting to look like green emmenthal cheese. But it's brilliant stuff anyway, I think it is absorbing all the nitrates. I could be wrong but that's my guess.
If you prepare a small, bright, warmish tank with just some plants in, I'm sure you'd get lots of snails just the right size for your little puffer.
Post some pics sometime, if you can. Mine are still very camera-shy, but I'll keep trying.
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puffermama
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:18 pm
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Jager
i find that in my experiances with training puffers to be more invert tolerate, frozen cubes work best. varied diet and not overly messy and the other fish eat the extras, but the cube shape keeps them from digging into other unknowns when they are really hooked also if frozen helps wear down teeth. you do have a dogface if thats it in the other pic post.
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~.:Olive:.~
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 5:35 pm
- Location: 34609
frozen cubes....? I think a whole cube is a little much right now....unless I had two...but you guys already said two is a no no.... 
The baster is working for us right now...but frozen could be a treat when he moves to a bigger tank!
Thanks for the help in ID, I was fairly sure....but happy to have someone agree!
xxoo
The baster is working for us right now...but frozen could be a treat when he moves to a bigger tank!
Thanks for the help in ID, I was fairly sure....but happy to have someone agree!
xxoo
~.:Olive:.~
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puffermama
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:18 pm
I hadn't thought about the grinding effect of frozen foods. I had always thawed everything, thinking it would upset their tummys to give stuff that was still frozen.
Also, I have read on some of the other threads that it is a good idea to thaw in vitamin enriched water for that little bit of extra goodness, but I have to admit I don't do that. I just add the vitamin drops straight to the water.
Also how do you train a puffer to be invert tolerant? It's what they like best , isn't it?
Susanna
Also, I have read on some of the other threads that it is a good idea to thaw in vitamin enriched water for that little bit of extra goodness, but I have to admit I don't do that. I just add the vitamin drops straight to the water.
Also how do you train a puffer to be invert tolerant? It's what they like best , isn't it?
Susanna