The Puffer Forum

Ok thank you for the information how often should i feed him? Right now i feed him once a day.

I found earth worms at a local gas station and he loves them. cant get him to eat snails though i guess i will keep trying are there any other alternatives for puffers teeth besides snails?

This species doesn't usually have tooth problems, but you can try things like mussles (they scrape their teeth on the shell), shell on shrimp, etc.

If he won't eat the snails, just leave them in there. One day he might see one moving around and decide to attack it, and discover they are a tasty treat.

ok thanks for the information im going to meijer to get some market shrimp for him.

update on kinghairy he loves the market shrimp that you told me about i just prod it around with a stick and he goes after it hes very active and is not shy at all.

Very very cool!

Its always better for them, and easier on you, if they'll eat "dead" foods.

How often daily should i feed my puffer?

The lurker species usually eat less as they get older... when they are full grown, usually they only want to eat every 4 days or so. The younger ones often eat once a day though.

If yours is interested in food, I would feed him, but if he's not interested that day, let it go until he shows more interest.

ok thank you for all the information it will help greatly as i raise the puffer.

How often should I switch what i feed him I mean should I feed him shrimp for a week then earthworms ect. how do you experts do it?

King Hairy is picking on my pleco in my tank is this normal?

Yes, they're vicious and are generally considered to be unsafe to house with any other living creature.

Yes, that's completely normal. Aggressive fish will pick on anything that moves, and somethings that don't (they've been known to bite heaters, etc).

We never recommend keeping a pleco or any other fish really with the lurker species.

As far as changing his food, whatever is handy for you. The more varied the diet, the better, but do what you can. If you do shrimp one feeding, worms the next, great. If you do shrimp for 3 feedings, worms for another, that's fine as well. Just try different things occassionally and see if you can get him to eat several things.

ok i will try a variety of food should i remove the pleco or will he be fine?

It will probably be bitten occasionally until a soft spot, like an eye or the belly, is hit, and then killed.