The Puffer Forum

Two days ago i bought a F8 and so far he has shown no interest in food. I am feeding him bloodworms and i plan to put some snails in there for him tomorrow. I have him in a 55g tank that is well planted and he tends to pace a lot, which i expected him to do until he settles in. My question is, is the lack of appitite normal, and if it is how long until i should worry?

Take a look at this: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug. ... ocellatus/

Puffers have been known to not eat until they are settled in. You can try soaking the bloodworms with garlic juice also.

In a tank that size, does he even see the food? Any tankmates outcompeting him for food? Is the tank BW?

It's a FW tank but it has some salt in it. I have seen him nibble the worms once or twice the first day but after that has shown no interest in them. I'm hoping that he will like the snails and shrimp though.

How much is "some salt" and what kind of salt is it?

Many puffers won't eat, especially in the first several weeks, while being watched.

Tank mates?

I have conditioning salt in there at 1tbs per 5g. His tank mates are a few gouramis and tetras and a clown loach. just put a fish bag with shrim in there and he is trying to eat them through the bag so i think that is a sign he is hungry now=)

Conditioning salt is worthless other than treating for ich. What you need is marine salt and either a hydrometer or refractometer to make brackish water of 1.005-1.008 SG.

Boxermom wrote:What you need is marine salt and either a hydrometer or refractometer to make brackish water of 1.005-1.008 SG.

Not with clown loaches, they don't tolerate salt well.

The best advice would be to rethink your stocking and water conditions. IE. decide which fish to keep, and which fish to return. Then provide the correct conditions for the fish you choose to keep.

Clown loaches don't do well in solitary confinement. They really should be in groups of 5 or more. Plus adults can reach up to 12" in length. This fish really isn't suitable for a 55g aquarium. More info here:
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/cl ... cracanthus

Clown loaches can be treated successfully with salted water but no, long term they do not do well. His fish don't belong together.