After calling about 10 different stores this evening, I managed to locate one that had South American Puffers.. And I had my 55g waiting for them, planted, unpopulated, my water temp is 78F, pH 7.6, Ammonia/Nitrate both at 0, but I don't think the beneficial bacterial population was quite ready for 3 puffers.. I opt'd to get Bio-Spira to ensure a clean integration to their new home. They seem to be healthy, I turned off the light to let them discover the tank and feel safe.. They are all swimming around happily discovering the nooks and crannies of the tank. They are being camera shy hiding behind plants, so I will have to take pictures tomorrow...
Should I bother trying to feed them tonight? I will have to food hunt a bit better tomorrow, I think my community tank has alot of small snails on the filter, but I figured I would try the frozen bloodworm I have.. See if they nab it, if they don't.. I will have to go out and get them the foods I see suggested for them to help them feel more at home.
Any tips for a new puffer keeper, Please feel free to comment. Should I change the water after the 4th or 5th day after using the Bio-Spira tonite?
Three New SAPs - My First Puffers
Well I dropped a small clump of thawed bloodworms into there and they didn't immediately go for them.. They spread along the bottom, they all appear to be eating them.. I also dropped one of my medium-sized apple snails that just died today, so they can peck at it, good idea or no??
I noticed at a pet store, they used a square of some sort of food and had a device to hold the square in place in the tank for them to feed off of.
They seem to be healthy and active, I will check them in the morning.. I am going to bed shortly.
I noticed at a pet store, they used a square of some sort of food and had a device to hold the square in place in the tank for them to feed off of.
They seem to be healthy and active, I will check them in the morning.. I am going to bed shortly.
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Boxermom
- Former Staff Member
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Remove the dead snail. It will immediately start to rot and foul the tank.
Edit: you should read the food article in the library. Also, SAPs need a daily diet of snails, their beaks grow faster than most other puffer types.
Edit: you should read the food article in the library. Also, SAPs need a daily diet of snails, their beaks grow faster than most other puffer types.
Tina
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
i woulda had a snail tank up and breeding a good month or so before getting them, so there is a good amount/production of snails.
i dunno the genus, but they are available most places, i'd post a WTB message on plantedtank.net and see if anyone responds, a lot of ppl are more than willing to let some go.
I found mine in a neighbors outdoor pond. LFS's should also have them.
i dunno the genus, but they are available most places, i'd post a WTB message on plantedtank.net and see if anyone responds, a lot of ppl are more than willing to let some go.
I found mine in a neighbors outdoor pond. LFS's should also have them.
jnheinz:
How are things going? Have they figured out where the food comes from yet? This is the third evening I have had my 3 new SAPs, like you I tried for ages to get them. It is now the right season, allegedly the late autumn rains in South America results in plenty of juvenile SAPs being available, so they are starting to get into the shops.
I started by feeding them individual bloodworms with a pair of chopsticks! When I just dropped them in the tank it was as if they didn't know that they were food. I had to wave them in front of their faces. Three days later they have already sussed that chopsticks = dinner and they come up to the top to meet the worms.
I have snails I have been breeding while trying to find them but they are so young I don't think they actually have teeth yet as they can't bite through the bloodworms!!
How are things going? Have they figured out where the food comes from yet? This is the third evening I have had my 3 new SAPs, like you I tried for ages to get them. It is now the right season, allegedly the late autumn rains in South America results in plenty of juvenile SAPs being available, so they are starting to get into the shops.
I started by feeding them individual bloodworms with a pair of chopsticks! When I just dropped them in the tank it was as if they didn't know that they were food. I had to wave them in front of their faces. Three days later they have already sussed that chopsticks = dinner and they come up to the top to meet the worms.
I have snails I have been breeding while trying to find them but they are so young I don't think they actually have teeth yet as they can't bite through the bloodworms!!
jeni,
I have had good luck with the 3.
I haven't been able to find the USB cable for the digital camera to upload the pictures.
I started with some bloodworm juice and thawed bloodworms as their very first food. 2 were in the corner dazzled by their reflections.. flying up and down in the corners.. 1 was patrolling the rear and saw the bloodworms.. he ate them, and the other two eventually swam over and nipped away.
3 days later, they all know when the first bloodworm hits the tank to run over.. one of them tried to run away with the whole glob last night.
I tried freeze dried tubifex worms.. they just floated around after coming unstuck from the front of the tank. Seems like a no-go there.
I don't have much puffer experience..but I wouldn't force feed them, let them get hungry or get a juicy shrimp or some type of seafood and put him on a food clip on the front of the tank and see if they go for it... I'm no fish expert but that would definitely let me know if they are eating or not.
It seems they all have different personalities, one patrolled the top of the water for 30 mins after the feeding was done, the others went back to their corners.... Oh, I recommend getting an in-tank air pump and a powerful powerhead, THEY LOVE IT! They could spend all day trying to swim into the powerhead current.
I have freeze dried krill, plankton, and earthworms headed my way via mail.. I'm pretty sure one of them they will go for.. Either way I have a community tank where they will die for those
Oh, and I am waiting for my snails to multiply.. Like watching a clock tick.......
I have had good luck with the 3.
I haven't been able to find the USB cable for the digital camera to upload the pictures.
I started with some bloodworm juice and thawed bloodworms as their very first food. 2 were in the corner dazzled by their reflections.. flying up and down in the corners.. 1 was patrolling the rear and saw the bloodworms.. he ate them, and the other two eventually swam over and nipped away.
3 days later, they all know when the first bloodworm hits the tank to run over.. one of them tried to run away with the whole glob last night.
I tried freeze dried tubifex worms.. they just floated around after coming unstuck from the front of the tank. Seems like a no-go there.
I don't have much puffer experience..but I wouldn't force feed them, let them get hungry or get a juicy shrimp or some type of seafood and put him on a food clip on the front of the tank and see if they go for it... I'm no fish expert but that would definitely let me know if they are eating or not.
It seems they all have different personalities, one patrolled the top of the water for 30 mins after the feeding was done, the others went back to their corners.... Oh, I recommend getting an in-tank air pump and a powerful powerhead, THEY LOVE IT! They could spend all day trying to swim into the powerhead current.
I have freeze dried krill, plankton, and earthworms headed my way via mail.. I'm pretty sure one of them they will go for.. Either way I have a community tank where they will die for those
Oh, and I am waiting for my snails to multiply.. Like watching a clock tick.......
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oldblueeye
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 8:25 am
- Location: sheffield
Re: Three New SAPs - My First Puffers
Are you sure the Nitrate was 0 or was it Nitrite you tested for ?.jnheinz wrote:Ammonia/Nitrate both at 0,
?
Cheers
oldblueeye
They have been eating frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, freeze-dried plankton, earthworms, and krill, as well as frozen shell-on shrimp. My snail farm is still in the works.. The only food they have totally rejected is freeze-dried tubifex worms.
They seem to be eating well, almost too well.. I am happy and impressed by their migration to my tanks as the first puffers I have ever owned.
Their favorite is probably a toss up between frozen bloodworms and FD plankton... They demolish both of them, one tries to run away with the whole glob and inhale them.
They seem to be eating well, almost too well.. I am happy and impressed by their migration to my tanks as the first puffers I have ever owned.
Their favorite is probably a toss up between frozen bloodworms and FD plankton... They demolish both of them, one tries to run away with the whole glob and inhale them.