Some advice needed about baileyi puffers

Boxermom · Post by **Boxermom** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:15 pm

I haven't noticed a real need for them thus far, but mine do like the occasional snail. Mine will, however, only eat snails (and feeders) of a certain size. Too small and the snail/feeder isn't worth bothering with.

They do apparently love crayfish a great deal though.

But no, I haven't noticed any signs at all thus far of dental issues.

messy_da_legend · Post by **messy_da_legend** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:17 pm

Thanks, the reason for asking is that I have a snail infestation in the baileyi tank lol. The cheapest crayfish I've seen was like a tenna so I'm not giving him those, it'll bankrupt me lol

Boxermom · Post by **Boxermom** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:20 pm

Yup, I've found mine will only eat fairly large ramshorns. Otherwise they get ignored.

I definitely would skip the expensive crayfish too. Mine were 4 for $10 which means they won't be more than a once-a-month-at-most treat. Probably closer to every 6-8 weeks though, but its something different for them. Otherwise they mainly eat shell-on frozen shrimp and silversides.

bsplenden · Post by **bsplenden** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:58 pm

oh... baileyis don't need that many snails? now i wonder if i should buy them or breed them.

i can offer my baileyi crayfish about twice a week, not a problem since crayfish is cheap here.

but should i be feeding 1"+ crayfish to a 2.5" baileyi?
if not, what size should i wait till the fish is?

that is the smallest size of crayfish I can find unless i start breeding them.

messy_da_legend · Post by **messy_da_legend** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:05 pm

You might need to "disarm" them first, but I would have thought it'd be fine.

bsplenden · Post by **bsplenden** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:12 pm

LOL...

So it's ok to feed a 1"+ crayfish to a 2.5" puffer?

I'll go get a couple of crays if that's the case.

Boxermom · Post by **Boxermom** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:13 pm

I dunno, I think a 1" crayfish might be too much food at one meal for a 2.5" fish. Mine are about 5" and the crayfish I had was about 1.5" and that was almost too much, they were definitely very bulgy afterwards.

That small, I'd just stick with silversides, shrimp, etc. and not worry too much about crayfish or snails.

bsplenden · Post by **bsplenden** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:22 am

I finally got some pictures of my baileyi.

The puffer gets stressed whenever there is gravel in the tank, and is fine almost immediately after I have removed them. Weird.
I'm adding the gravel back in, bit by bit. And it seems to be doing fine.

This is a link to my gallery
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug. ... n/baileyi/

And now a few you tube videos of me feeding my baileyi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA-UaNRHAwk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwav1WNLVnA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9ImMJtGO3U

BTW, besides frozen shrimps, I'm also feeding frozen cockles. Are cockles fine?
It seems a little bloody when the puffer bites it.

Boxermom · Post by **Boxermom** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:56 am

Very cute! Yes, cockles are good. Snails can be somewhat bloody, too, and earthworms are REALLY messy.

old dirty picasso · Post by **old dirty picasso** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:05 am

i'd only give one every two weeks if you can't get smaller ones
until your fish is bigger

bsplenden · Post by **bsplenden** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:26 am

old dirty picasso wrote:i'd only give one every two weeks if you can't get smaller ones
until your fish is bigger

So little? The puffer is still a kiddie at slightly less than 3".

I'm currently feeding it once every few days. It will be a little bloated for a night. By morning, it will be begging for food again. I do restrain myself from feeding it though.

Boxermom · Post by **Boxermom** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:27 am

Feeding every couple of days is good at that size.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:54 pm

My puffers LOVE earthworms, but prepared for their gill slits to eject a snowblower-like cloud of whatever dirt the worms had in their gut, the puffers don't enjoy eating that part.

bsplenden · Post by **bsplenden** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:21 am

I don't have earthworms for sale as fish food in Singapore. I can dig for them if I want to, but I don't want to risk it.

I can provide lots of other types of food though. I think that should make it up to the puffer. I also soak prawn meat in vitamin for my fishes about once or twice a month.

Boxermom · Post by **Boxermom** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:29 am

Earthworms aren't a requirement, and I really don't use them at all myself anymore. I hated the vast amounts of crap they release into the tank when chewed up.

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Some advice needed about baileyi puffers