Overfeeding Puffers

A place to discuss general puffer care or news.
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Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
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Overfeeding Puffers

Post by Pufferpunk »

Overfeeding Puffers

Puffers - actually fish in general, especially hunter predators - do not eat constantly in the wild. They have to work for their food, spending much time and energy in the search for edibles. Then they spend time lazing and digesting, then restart the search. There are no or very few feedback loops on fish appetites - they will continue eating even while excreting largely to completely undigested food. Lacking the ribs and bony framework most fish have, there is even less restriction on the amount of food ingested than there is for other fish. Daily or more frequent feeding of predators in captivity is perhaps the major cause of tank pollution and liver and kidney problems (all shortening life) in captive fish. Other than feeding completely unsuitable foods, it is very hard to starve a fish, but it all too easy to kill them with kindness. Young puffers especially will eat until they are unable to swim, look almost puffed up, and are rolled around by the current - very bad practice. Just as with people, "a lean horse for a long race" does apply. Your fish will be healthier and live out their full span if they are not overfed.
~RTR
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
hashman74
Puffer Fry
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:59 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Post by hashman74 »

If I don't feed my F8 once a day then he goes for my other fish. I've lost 4 due to my LFS recommending that fish can be left without food for upto two days. This was because I thought I was overfeeding. My internal filter (which is big for the size of my tank) couldn't cope. Once I stopped the daily feeding within one night two male guppies disappeared. No remains. nothing. I also feed my F8 from a bamboo skewer as he won't pick food from the bottom.
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Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by Pufferpunk »

This is why puffers must be kept in species only tanks. Especially not kept with fish that have long fins, like guppies. Well fed or not, your puffers will eventually eat all your fish.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
wannapuffer-20g
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 4:29 pm

Post by wannapuffer-20g »

thats just funny....
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Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by Pufferpunk »

Glad I'm not a fish in his tank!
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
puffermama
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 126
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:18 pm

Post by puffermama »

My son and I recently acquired two green spotted puffers. We love watching them eat, especially when we thread cockles on a wooden skewer. They both get a good chance to tug at it to their hearts content, but I noticed that they do not actually eat when they are full and it seems that is not usual.

Love the forums!


Susanna
Last edited by puffermama on Mon Oct 24, 2005 2:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by Pufferpunk »

Mine have also stopped eating when full but I have seen pics of an exploded puffer that ripped it's seams! :shock: :cry:
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Feathers&Fins
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 201
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 5:42 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Pufferless since Nova passed; had 2 red T.miuris, 4 T.biocellatus for many years.
Location (country): KY (USA)
Location: (US) Kentucky

Post by Feathers&Fins »

I remember that photo well. :cry:
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Sari
Dwarf Puffer
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Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:44 am
Location: The Canadian Prairies

Post by Sari »

omg, how harsh!!

Was that posted on here?
When life gives you lemons, make grape juice.
Then sit back and watch as everyone tries to figure out how you did it.
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Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by Pufferpunk »

It was over at WaterWolves.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
toyota_mini
Puffer Fry
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Location: SUMTER SC
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Post by toyota_mini »

btw my f8 is kept with 2 angels a pictus cat a placo6 in and a cory cat
R.I.P. Baby girl taken too soon by a snail!!!!!!!!
red eye puffer
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LittlePuff
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My Puffers: One female dwarf puffer 😞
Location (country): United States
Location: Rock Island,IL

Post by LittlePuff »

All freshwater fish (except the puffer)

Kim
Puffy?
Puffer Fry
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Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2005 3:42 am
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Post by Puffy? »

I hope my GSP wont bother my Mandarins they are such pretty fish :D I just got the Mandarins yesterday and the puffer is completely ignoring them infact my puffer is the only fish in my tank that ever gets chased. My Sleeper banded goby seems quite territorial, and chases the puffer from time to time.
puffedy puff puff puffer fish
RTR
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Post by RTR »

Mandarins with a GSP? Not me Charlie Brown!
Where's the fish? - Neptune
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by Pufferpunk »

What are the Manderins eating?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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