DP Feeding theory

[jeromecarlyoung]

Hi Folks,
First message here.
I have a theory about feeding DPs. My thought is that these fish, when for sale, live in groups in Aquatics Shops.
If they are fed live food then that is what they learn to eat.
If they are fed frozen food then competition between the fish will force them to eat frozen food.
I have a single DP (lives in a 10 Gallon tank with 2 Ottos and a small Bristlenose Pleco). This fish has been fed, in the store, on live bloodworm. Since buying "Puff" she only likes to eat what it's been used to; live bloodworm. I have put quite a few snails in the Tank and I guessed they were consumed as they disappeared over time but now has gone off snails
I have got a bit low on live bloodoworms and have to get a new batch every 2 weeks
I have been trying to put frozen Bloodworm in the worm cone and they seem to be gone in the morning. I think the Pleco maybe making a visit and scooping up the frozen worms. I have only seen Puff in the cone once and she didn't eat any of the frozen worms.

Do Puffers learn from other Puffers what is to eat?
Puff still seems to be healthy though and is a lot bigger than other Dps when I go to the LFS stores.
I aslo supplement by breeding Daphnia.

Any ideas?

-Jerry

[pufferpuggirl]

While it's true that dwarf puffers might get used to what they are being fed at the LFS, that doesn't mean that you can't eventually get them to eating what you've got available. I've never had a single DP, always had small groups, so I can't say I've ever noticed any of mine not eating what I've offered. I just put frozen bloodworm in my tank and they all seem to enjoy it.
If you want to get your DP onto frozen bloodworm, then I would get him/her good and hungry and keep offering the frozen bloodworm. If it's not taken at first, don't worry. Eventually I would think the DP would eat the food rather than starve.
Just a reminder -- when feeding frozen bloodworm, it's best to soak it in a liquid vitamin. I buy the slabs of frozen bloodworm, then I thaw it out rinse it, and then I put it in a container and pour vitamins over it and let it soak.

**** Oh, forgot to say

[PolishPuff]

Welcome

My DP's ( 5 ) just love bloodworms.

I got a hard time to make them eat other foods.

Soaking food in vitamins is a great advice, I soak the food for about 4 hours

[jeromecarlyoung]

Thanks for that.
I am trying to Marinade with Garlic as this is suppose to give the bloodworm a little better flavour for my discerning fish.
Vitamins too?? Crikey!!
I was hoping that Bloodworm was the stuff with all the goodies in them and Glassworm, Brine Shrimp and Daphnia were for a bit of extra variety.
It'll be great to get them on frozen stuff as I, every Saturday, go to an LFS store to sift through the Tanks of Aquarium Plants looking for free Snails and getting live Bloodworms too.
Pets at Home are fantastic and I am down in thier books as the Snail Man; they are saving me thier disposed Snails for pickup.
I have heard that DPs will starve themselves to death in order to get what they want; maybe the death was down to other issues (water quality or something else).

Thanks for the responses.

-Jerry

[RTR]

Most fish do get accustomed to the familiar foods, but all I have kept could be trained to alternate foods. This certainly includes DPs. iIdo agree with PPG on that.

Cone feeders are really intended for live blackworms, not for frozen/thawed foods.

[jeromecarlyoung]

I know I have a Bristlenose Pleco to do the cleaning of any uneaten worms but the cone is to make sure that Puff gets used to where the food is and also to stop too many uneaten worms from decomposing. If uneaten, I can change the worms for fresh ones if they are still in the cone.

Cheers Jerry

[lillyfloweruk]

hello do any one know were i can buy dwarf puffer fish in yeovil somerset? many thanks!