The Puffer Forum

I`m talking about the species Aka Sharpnose Puffer, Ocellated Toby, Spotted Toby.

I got one of these in my 32 gallon tank. He is extremely small and housed with 2 tiny baby clarkii clowns, 1 blue neon goby, 1 camel shrimp and 1 skunk cleaner shrimp. I plan to move him to my 55 gallon tank as soon as he gets large enough. My 32 gallon tank has a Turboflotor Blue 1000 protein skimmer (aqua medic) And an EFU - 45 External power filter (JUB). The power filter is mostly for the flow instead of using powerheads. Now my other 3 fish seem to be eating fine, but the puffer (only added 2 days ago) seems fixed on following his reflection around the tank. He is fine with the shirmp, and the few snails i have in my tank. The cleaner goby even occassionally cleans him. He`s also fine with my hand in the tank as well. My only worry is that during feeding time, i never seem him eat. I feed the fish Sera Granu Marin in the morning, and during the night feeding i feed them variety frozen foods. I know he is likely not to go for the granules but why wont he eat the frozen meaty food? Is there anyway to get him to start eating? i tested the tank and all the parameters are spot on. Temperature is around 22 degrees. Salinity perfect.

Is his behaviour normal as hes just getting used to the tank? should i wait another day or two? or should i worry?

Thanks,
alexi

i would also like to add that i got this fish from the LFS a day after it arrived from Malaysia. The reason i rushed is because its rarely available at my LFS and last time they got bought immediately. For the only feeding he had at the LFS he did not eat and i knew this before purchase.

How long have you had this fish?

The puffer is going through a stage in which it is getting used to living in a glass box. You could try feeding live foods like glass shrimp, very very small snails, live shrimp, freshly opened mussel or clam on the half shell, or you could soak the food in garlic.

DRRT wrote:How long have you had this fish?

Only for 2 days

when you say soak the food in garlic, what exactly you mean? Garlic paste or water with Garlic granules, planning to try this tomorrow.

There are excellent articles on feeding in the library.

There are retail products that I use, bought at the LFS.

Please do read the articles - I always forget about those.

it always takes a new exotic fish a while to get used to new surroundings. my lions ALWAYS take at least a few days. and my puffers at least 2. this is good practice if you plan on switching them all over to a 55 gal. howver. i dont think the shrimps or crabs or whatever are going to be safe for THAT long, as soon as he gets the taste for crab meat he may go after it. its a catch 22...you want crabs and snails and lobsters in your tank with him, the catch is...thats his best diet...:-/

either way when you get him eating and all, hes gonna start trusting you and knowing you bring him food and hes gonna be an awesome fish to have. only reccommendations for someone to buy him.