The Puffer Forum

ok its now friday and my suvatti still rejects food although he did try to have a sniff at a king prawn which i have on the end of some fishing wire in the out flow. i rang the store last night to ask if they have been feeding him he said they have fed him on mussel on the end of a stick.....ok iv been trying mussel since wednesday with no joy. all he does is swims extreemly fast up and down the glass he's done it that much that the end of his nose has gone white where hes rubbed his skin away. his stomach is now starting to sink a little as he hasnt eaten since monday.

whats your opinions.

ps. iv tested the water with my kit and my dads kit this morning the water is perfecto couldnt be much better.

??

pps i have just been advised to do a urgent 50% water change as a little transit water entered the tank is this wise if it was a water problem he would swim about madly he would sulk with all fins clamped right?

Sounds like he's still trying to settle to me. Did you soak the food in garlic?

well iv just done a 50% water change ill see how he is later tonight

its not unusual behavoiur in a new puffer, just think of the jourey and stress he has gone through to end up in your tank. A water change is a good idea if you thionk something is up but I have to say that I think you are worrying for nothing really, he will come round

Bonk him on the nose with a shrimp or mussle... that might make him take a defensive bite and once he realizes its tasty, he should chow down.

Or try a live night crawler, then leave the room so its nice and quiet and he can settle down, maybe he's just still nervous.

yes it just made me worry as he is swimming round like mad and pignose puffers arent really swimmers. and he hasnt eaten.

hes just had a king prawn with success he loved it

Finally he took something, hopefully it will get easier to get him to eat from now on.

Thats great! Now, don't get worried if he doesn't want to eat again for a few days, the lurkers tend to only be interested in food every 3-5 days IME.

Myaj wrote:Thats great! Now, don't get worried if he doesn't want to eat again for a few days, the lurkers tend to only be interested in food every 3-5 days IME.

Sure? My suvatti is always interested in food... That's the only time he moves: when there's hope for food! But it took a while after I got him before he understood that I meant food. And it took a while for him to settle in too. I've never had a puffer that has liked changes so little as this fish.

Like I said, IME. Bubba will get very cranky with me if I offer him food when he's not hungry. The other day I offered him a night crawler. He had no interest. I asked him if he was sure, and dangled it right in his face. He responded by biting it in half and spitting it back at me, then going to hide back in his cave. Today he was more than happy to have a nightcrawler. Other times when he hasn't wanted something, he's bitten me if I keep pushing it on him. So now I just wait for him to come out and ask for something to eat, hehe.