DP will only eat snails - any tricks to make him eat worms?

Dwarf, Red Eye, South American & more. Freshwater puffer talk in here.
Post Reply
Marya
Puffer Fry
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Feb 11, 2007 5:09 pm
Location: Aarhus, Denmark

DP will only eat snails - any tricks to make him eat worms?

Post by Marya »

One of my little young DPs which I bought recently doesn't show any interest in the bloodworms I usually feed my DPs. I had some snails, but didn't get to make a snail farm and now the snails are all eaten. The little DP concerned has already become skinnier. I keep this fish in a small tank with one other young DP and this DP eagerly eats the worms (AND snails when the chance was there).But this doesn't seem to affect the other DP.

Is there any trick to make the starving DP eat worms? Or is there nothing I can do and then the fish will die eventually? :(
Why won't the DP eat worms? Is it because he is wild caught and used to live foods?

I plan on starting a snail farm this summer so I can give my DPs snails now and then. I also want to try hatching some brine shrimp for my fish also this summer. But blood worm is supposed to be the main diet for my fish! It's been so far with no probs at all.
Best regards,
Marya
User avatar
Boxermom
Former Staff Member
Posts: 2182
Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:34 pm
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Post by Boxermom »

It may not ever have had them and doesn't recognize them as food. Try soaking them in declor water with some garlic slices. Keep offering.
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
Marya
Puffer Fry
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Feb 11, 2007 5:09 pm
Location: Aarhus, Denmark

Post by Marya »

Really, do they like garlic? :D I'll try! And I'll keep offering the worms too every day when the other one is fed. I hope he starts eating then.... :(

Thanks Boxermom!
Best regards,
Marya
kass
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 473
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:14 pm
Gender: Male
Location (country): Canada
Location: Guelph, Canada

Post by kass »

One of my DPs only eats live worms and snails. Wont touch frozen bloodworms.
User avatar
Boxermom
Former Staff Member
Posts: 2182
Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:34 pm
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Post by Boxermom »

Garlic is a natural appetite stimulant, it often helps encourage stubborn fish to eat.
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
Nick
Former Staff Member
Posts: 3231
Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
My Puffers: Mine:
GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike
Location (country): Northeastern USA
Location: Middletown, CT
Contact:

Post by Nick »

if you have any empty snail shells anywhere, tucking a bloodworm of piece thereof into the shell will likely trick the puff into at least attempting the worm. What brand of bloodworms are you using? Hikari tend to be less waste material and smaller more DP manageable.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
Post Reply