Had a rescue case puffer come to me awhile ago and she would simply not eat any variety of things put in front of her living or otherwise. What finally made a difference was taking a wooden skewer and a fresh market (w' shell, legs, vein, etc) shrimp, putting it on the end of the skewer, and bopping her in the face with it until she got pissed off enough at it to "hit" (bite) the shrimp. It then dawns on them that it is yummy/food/etc. I used a full size shrimp since we were talking about an 10" Arothron Meleagris (Guinea Fowl Puffer) but vary the food to prey size.
I did this as a last resort when ghost shrimp, fresh clams/oysters, squid, scallops, mysis, pellet, flake, etc all failed. Even put a FW fiddler crab in with her (with large claw plucked off) and she just ignored it.
Just thought this might help anyone with a problem eater....sometimes a puffer hunger strike (not uncommon) can extend long enough that they forget they need to eat. This can help remind them....
Hope this helps....Lee
You WILL eat...the cure for non eaters or problem eaters
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Arothron Junkie
- Dwarf Puffer
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- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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Kinda cruel technique. But hey, it will keep them from starving.
<80 gal> 2 GSPs & a Ceylon!
<75 gal> 3 Figure 8s & 1 Butterlfy Goby
<75 gal> *Empty*
<55 gal> 3 Gymnothorax polyuranodon (FW eel)
<30 long> Pair of Lorteti's & Irrubesco's, 1 DP, Endlers Livebearers, Clown Pleco, Royal Pleco, 2 Bumblebee Cats
<20 long> 4 Flounders
<4 gal> 2 Sparkling Gouramis & 3 ottos heavily planted
~Tihsho~
<75 gal> 3 Figure 8s & 1 Butterlfy Goby
<75 gal> *Empty*
<55 gal> 3 Gymnothorax polyuranodon (FW eel)
<30 long> Pair of Lorteti's & Irrubesco's, 1 DP, Endlers Livebearers, Clown Pleco, Royal Pleco, 2 Bumblebee Cats
<20 long> 4 Flounders
<4 gal> 2 Sparkling Gouramis & 3 ottos heavily planted
~Tihsho~
I did similarly with my SA puffer (now in heaven). Though, I used big fat bloodworms and keep bouncing them off her head until she got irritated enough to take a bite. It works sometimes.
I'd rather be a puffer than a snail. Yes I would, if I could, I surely would...
Proud owner of: Beetroot: Fahaka, Hammie: Hairy Puffer, Fishball: Congo Puffer
RIP: Wasabi: Male irrubesco, Hamachi: Female irrubesco, Popcorn: SA puffer
Proud owner of: Beetroot: Fahaka, Hammie: Hairy Puffer, Fishball: Congo Puffer
RIP: Wasabi: Male irrubesco, Hamachi: Female irrubesco, Popcorn: SA puffer
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Arothron Junkie
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2005 1:58 am
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Only time this doesn't work is when the fish is so traumatized or submissive that it just curls up (tail pinched and tucked sideways) and shuts down. In that case you kind of have to back off, turn off the lights, and let them chill... That said, when this doesn't work your chances are grim in my experience. That is why its kinda a last resort...
PS I'd generally advise against trying to force feed a puffer, since they can puff/shrink via swallowing stuff they can just puke back out whatever you try to give them. Again, another "last ditch" technique...
PS I'd generally advise against trying to force feed a puffer, since they can puff/shrink via swallowing stuff they can just puke back out whatever you try to give them. Again, another "last ditch" technique...
210: golden puffer, harley tusk, black dogface, juv emp angel, green wolf eel, purple tang
75/58: dogface, powder blue tang, longhorn cowfish, juv niger trigger
75/58: dogface, powder blue tang, longhorn cowfish, juv niger trigger
BTW Just want to add to this, this process should not be done with porc puffs. These guys puff to easily and seem really passive to attacks.
<80 gal> 2 GSPs & a Ceylon!
<75 gal> 3 Figure 8s & 1 Butterlfy Goby
<75 gal> *Empty*
<55 gal> 3 Gymnothorax polyuranodon (FW eel)
<30 long> Pair of Lorteti's & Irrubesco's, 1 DP, Endlers Livebearers, Clown Pleco, Royal Pleco, 2 Bumblebee Cats
<20 long> 4 Flounders
<4 gal> 2 Sparkling Gouramis & 3 ottos heavily planted
~Tihsho~
<75 gal> 3 Figure 8s & 1 Butterlfy Goby
<75 gal> *Empty*
<55 gal> 3 Gymnothorax polyuranodon (FW eel)
<30 long> Pair of Lorteti's & Irrubesco's, 1 DP, Endlers Livebearers, Clown Pleco, Royal Pleco, 2 Bumblebee Cats
<20 long> 4 Flounders
<4 gal> 2 Sparkling Gouramis & 3 ottos heavily planted
~Tihsho~