Puffer questions

[morgan]

Hi everyone i have a few questions about my gsp well i just acculamaited my puffer to brackish water i did this slowly. My question is i put him into the tank and now its swimming back and worth and up and down along the sides of the tank. Is that a normal behavior when being added to a new tank? I bought that stuff you add to the tank when cycling so you can add fish right away. All my specs are good no ammonia or anything im just wondering how long it takes for them to settle in. Im a new owner and im attached and curious and worried at the same time so any advice would be great. Thank you a head of time.

[side19]

yeah it happens. they pace like that when they're getting used to a new tank or are just plain bored. its nothing to really be worried about. as long as your tank is heavily decorated with things to explore he'll stop once he's settled in. it might take few days or a few weeks for him to get fully settled, just give him time and make sure he's eating and doesn't show any signs of disease. as long as you keep the water clean and him well fed he'll be fine, and hopefully once he's settled he'll be a happy little puffer.

[pufferpuggirl]

Very well said side19!

[side19]

thank you schismy

[morgan]

Well i fed him this morning two shrimp pellets and he ate a little but i had to go to work so i didnt get to see how much was ate. I tried again tonight to feed him i tied a peice of clam to thread and let it move in the water because i wanted him to have some variety. But tonight he doesnt seem to want to eat as much is that normal aslo? He seems like starting to get use to the tank a little more the tank has alot of stuff in it like plants rocks and things like that but im going to be adding more rocks. Do you think meal worms alive or canned makes a difference? I know snails, ghost shrimp, clams in the shell, shrimp pellets, blood worms. Can i feed the shrimp you get at petsmart thats frozen? there pink i dont know the name but there pink with black eyes. Any who thanks for you advice a head of time.

[side19]

i'm not sure about the meal worms, but the shrimp you're talking about are brine shrimp, and those will be fine. you're giving a good variety for foods so that's always a good sign. and yes the ghost shrimp from petsmart would be a great treat for him. try feeding the shrimp some fish flakes before feeding them to your puffer for some added nutrition. as for the not eating as much it could be his mood. does his belly look pinched? if so treat for parasites right away. another sign is if his poo is white and stringy. hope this helps.

[morgan]

When i had him in the hostipal tank he ate great he has a white belly its not pinched or anything. Hes a good color nothing crazy going on besides him not wanting to eat as much since i moved him into BW it wasent right away it was slowly so hes not shocked or anything like that. Im not sure what his issue is to be honest he was a good eater when he was in a 5 gallon hostipal tank. Do you think it might be from being a a large tank and it being new? i dont want to make somthing out of nothing. His poop is okay to nothing stringy or white i dont know it just makes me wonder but then again we could be in a bad mood like you say lol and hes really shy when i go near the tank he hides away but this morning he came right out to eat shrimp pellets. But thanks i didnt know they could have moods lol thats intresting to know. What do you do to get yours to eat non living food? i even tied the chopped shrimp to thread lol.

[yunachin]

Are you referring to krill? While krill and meal worms can be an every once in a while treat, you want to stick to shelled foods. Local grocers can offer a wide variety of sea fare for you to feed to your puffer that can be frozen (or is already). You can defrost as you need to and feed it to him that way.
His behavior is normal and they can actually go a couple of days without eating and be fine. As long as his stomach is not sunken in or he isn't hiding constantly, I believe he is just getting used to his new environment. He should come around very soon.

[morgan]

What about shelled shrimp? what do you feed yours? and how do you get yours to eat non living food?

[side19]

i started mine out on live snails, and then after they started eating those i tried frozen blood worms and took right to those. you can feed yours shrimp with the shell on, just make sure its raw. if its cooked it loses all of the nutrition. one thing that might help to get him to eat dead foods to to mix live and dead together. like yunichin going a few days with out eating won't hurt, its actually recommended with some of the bigger puffers that you only feed them every other day, or fast them at least one day of the week. give hime some time to get used to his new home, he is most likely just in a bad mood from being moved and needs time to adjust. puffers are very moody fish. my F8 will literally hide all day after a cleaning of the tank and then be perfectly friendly again in the morning. all part of what makes us all so nuts about our little fishy friends.

[yunachin]

I agree with Side19.
Give him some time and then if he doesn't start eating after about a week or so you can try to entice him with some garlic flavoring that you can dip the food in. It's an appetite enhancer and is easily found in any fish or pet store.

[LilGreenPuffer]

You can also make it by crushing the juice out of a clove of garlic.

[morgan]

Aww thats cute yeah he seems like in a better mood this morning when i turned the light on he was right there. I didnt feed him this morning because he ate a little last night. He seems to be a really bright green today and his belly is super white im going togo to the market today and buy some shrimp in the shell raw and some clams then i dont know where im going to find snails though? the pet stores in maryland dont seem to have many. Ill have to take some photos of him today so everyone can see thats if he wants his photo taken and i have to give him a name also.

[bigfatfish]

Their really hard to take photos of - good luck!!

[morgan]

Well he doesnt hide till he figures out im coming toward the tank but i might catch him off gaurd you never know lol. Well off to work have a good day everyone!