My Puffer Puffed Up

Derpeder · Post by **Derpeder** » Fri May 19, 2006 6:50 pm

Now I know its bad for them and stresses them, but regardless he is doing fine and it was the greatest thing I've seen in all my aquaria experience.
THE STORY
I had fed my GSP's a feeder guppy for two friends so they could see them chase it down. Well in the Hunt one of bit the other in the stomache and BAM puffed up. It was actually quite cute cause they are still so small.

Do not fret I watched him closely for days and he is doing great and eating and getting along. I think it was an honest mistake by the other puff who was the biter. He was snapping at the guppy while the other got in the way. and the instant he realized it was not the guppy he let go.

Anyway it was great to see him puff up.

Tihsho · Post by **Tihsho** » Fri May 19, 2006 7:11 pm

What a great expereince. But next time if you want to show off your feeding frenzy that your puff is capable of, do not do it by feeding them feeder guppies... Go for ghost shrimp.

Derpeder · Post by **Derpeder** » Fri May 19, 2006 7:33 pm

do they love the ghost shrimp even more?

Why do you say that? Cause I'll try it tonight.

The Fisherman · Post by **The Fisherman** » Fri May 19, 2006 7:42 pm

puffers areonly partially piscivores in the wild(fish eaters), therefore guppys are not a very natural diet. the excess fish oil in guppies can clog their arteries too.

they are molluskivores in the wild, so mollusks and crustaceans are their favored prey.

Derpeder · Post by **Derpeder** » Fri May 19, 2006 7:46 pm

well thats good to know.

What are the best LIVE foods to feed them that they will chase around and gobble up?

Tihsho · Post by **Tihsho** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:18 pm

Ghostshrimp are the best live wise. Just be sure to quarantine them and gutload them with healthy food.

lisalisa · Post by **lisalisa** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:37 pm

Crayfish are great too.

The Fisherman · Post by **The Fisherman** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:38 pm

and mini crabs if the puff is big enough

Tihsho · Post by **Tihsho** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:49 pm

lisalisa wrote:Crayfish are great too.

I'd go ghosties before crays. Puffs need to get use to hunting. Crayfish are nocturnal so if you forget you put one in the tank and the puffer is not use to hunting it can take out the puffer.

Boxermom · Post by **Boxermom** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:59 pm

Blackworms.

Tihsho · Post by **Tihsho** » Fri May 19, 2006 9:05 pm

Haha! We forgot the most obvious. Good call Boxermom!

GSPdragon · Post by **GSPdragon** » Sat May 20, 2006 11:04 am

please don't feed your puffer other fish, they can be full of god knows what and as others said are not the natural diet nor good for them.

Get some feeder ghost shrimp (don't skip on QTing them!) your puff will love them and its great fun to watch them practice hunting, pending how much decor you have the ghosties can manage to hide for awhile and the puff gets lots of stimulation searching.

Snails are also not only needed for his teeth but great fun to feed, mine never touch the bottom before my GSP gets them!

mr_jason32 · Post by **mr_jason32** » Mon May 22, 2006 5:13 am

crabs are fun to watch get eaten. crickets are also fun too because they float around and your puffers pop them off the surface.

OraLacerta · Post by **OraLacerta** » Mon May 22, 2006 9:20 am

I can never feed my Puffers crabs after owning a fiddler crab

They're such cute little things....

The Fisherman · Post by **The Fisherman** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:59 pm

OraLacerta wrote:I can never feed my Puffers crabs after owning a fiddler crab They're such cute little things....

i will have to agree with you there, it was verey hard for me to watch my Modestus tear apart the cute little crab...

i felt really bad about the whole thing..i think theres a thread around here about it...

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