The Puffer Forum

Semi-starved, are you kidding??? Where have I posted that?
http://davenmidtown.hubpages.com/hub/Fe ... Other-Fish
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen6.html
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar ... 7X00800237
http://www.glfc.org/pubs/SpecialPubs/sp ... /chap8.pdf

Why would I be kidding? By feeding once a week that is what you are doing. I appreciate the links although they do not provide any evidence to back up your opinion...

The first and second links are irrelevant as they are about the use of feeder fish as a food source which isn't what we are talking about. The third I cannot access so can't comment on... The fourth is about Salmon so not exactly relevant, and more importantly doesn't mention anything about obesity being a factor in liver disease. Interestingly it does advise that feeds should be DAILY:

p72: "Proper feeding of a quality diet should be considered as a high priority in the daily routine on fish culture stations."
p64: "In practice, fish culturists must estimate the biologically available (digestible) energy content of a diet before they can determine the weight of feed that should be fed each day."

Forgetting its about Salmon for a moment, it actually seems to be focused on under-feeding and the poor nutritional content of different food types. Interestingly it repeatedly mentions slow growth and inactivity being symptoms of an unhealthy fish and that these are usually caused by poor diet (low quantity and quality)... What were you saying about your Fahaka's growth rate & activity levels?

Your fish, do as you wish.

Even with the healthiest of diets what you are feeding your puffer still contains fats, carbohydrates, and sugars. A influx of these nutrients into their bodies without a major way to burn off those calories will lead to fatty tissue buildup. It doesn't matter if the articles that pp pulled up were the same species of fish because this occurs in all forms of life.

It doesn't matter about what sort of nutrients because all nutrients can be converted to fat by the body, its an evolution necessity for life for when food becomes scarce to be able to live on fat storage. But for a fish in an aquarium where food is a constant rather than a variable there is no need and fat becomes detrimental and it is hard to burn off because it's such an efficient fuel source that very little fat needs to be used to keep the fish fueled. While fatty tissue build up may not directly lead to liver disease it does force the fish's heart and blood vessels and arteries work harder and will most likely eventually lead to fatty liver disease.

Again as pp said it's your fish and we are only giving you our opinions, in the end it all comes down to what you want to do for your fish. Best of luck.

To be honest looking at your vid i'd say your fahaka looks A1 in size , colouration and activeness, certainly doesnt look over or under fed . I 've personally found with mine that she ( or he ! ) likes a good munch pre a growth spurt . As for all this unfounded fatty liver disease , its poinless without well founded hard scientific proof .

looks like he's selling his fahaka on ebay for £46 ......http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fahaka-Nile-p ... 27c7683488

Thanks. As much as I've loved keeping the fahaka we took our little one to the local fish shop and he was absolutely mesmerized by the mbuna tank they had so I've decided to switch. Hopefully get him interested in the hobby too . The price on eBay is just to make sure I only get sensible enquiries- If someone can prove they will look after him (proper tank size/filtration etc) then I really don't care if I get any money. Perhaps an occasional update on his progress in the new owner's care is all I'd ask.

+1 to PP's comments.

Just a obesity is one of the largest contributors to the relatively poor health of this society's people in relation to other first world countries, obesity in fish is a primary cause of reduced lifespan in captive fish. The same applies to cats and dogs.