Puffer Food

[redhouse]

Hi,

I am wondering will GSP eat any dry/staple food? If so, which one will they eat? Thanks.

[Boxermom]

No, puffers won't usually eat dried foods, and foods like flake and pellet foods aren't sufficient for a staple diet. There's a very good food article in our library, including pictures, with some ideas on what to feed him.

[manutius]

the only thing Clooney eats like that is sinking catfish pellets and hikari algae wafers. I would not advise these as a staple food though. You wanna go with mussels and cockles etc. Check the library for feeding article

[redhouse]

Thanks for your replies. I am currently feeding frozen blood worms, but am thinking of an alternative. I am thinking of breeding my own snails after reading the article. I am really dumb and new at this. Will any snails do?

[manutius]

yuo just make sure that if you are collecting your own they are form an area that is free of pesticides. Keeping them in a tub and feeding them well on veg will make sure they are just right for you puffer. If you use pond snails then you can set up a small tank to raise them in.

[redhouse]

Alright thanks alot for the info. I have a problem, well I am not sure if it is a problem. My puffer has been these few days, swimming against the walls of the tank like crazy. Its swimming up and down, side to side, in really fast speeds against the wall. It looks irritated/agitated or something. There isnt any other fish in the tank. Its appetite has also seemed to deteriorate. What is wrong with it?

[Rocker]

What size tank is the fish in and is it heavily decorated?

[redhouse]

The size of the puffer is a juvenile, size of the head of your thumb. The size of my tank is 2 feet. I have just used some online tank volume calculator, and it says 14 gallon(US I think).

[Boxermom]

What are the water parameters? How did you cycle the tank? How is it decorated?

[Rocker]

The tank will be ok for short term but i would consider upgrading asap. That will help the puffer whilst it grows and also may help with the puffer 'pacing' the glass. Provide a bigger area with more decoration to explore and it should relieve the boredom.

[redhouse]

Sorry, the tank is completely empty, other than a simple sponge filter. The kind where you plug the air pump into it. It is what the aquarium where I bought it from uses. I have added aquarium salt into the water...I dont have any other equipment to test the ph etc...

[redhouse]

Hi Rocker, I dont know but the puffer is really small, and the current tank looks really big for it. It certainly looks like a penny in a hall. Something like this...

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I cant afford a larger tank at the moment. The aquarium seem to squeeze I could say at least 20 puffers in a 0.8 feet tank and they seem ok. How do they do it?

[Rocker]

Firstly you need to replace the auarium salt with marine salt. That will provide BW.

Empty tank = boredom which is what your puffer is exhibiting.The tanks needs alot of decoration to stop the puffer pacing the glass.

[Boxermom]

Please read the GSP article by Pufferpunk in our library. That will give you a lot of information that you are lacking.

[redhouse]

Thanks guys, this is great. At least I know that my puffer is not sick or something. I will see what I can do to bring the tank to a optimum condition asap. You all have been of great help.