Tater's inept eating

[Bonsai_girl]

So far I've only managed to get Tater to eat gut-loaded ghost shrimp. I've always fed my puffers a varied diet, so I've also tried him with pieces of dead shell-on shrimp, mussels, squid and snails. I've dangled things from threads, bounced them around in the current and gently tapped him on the head with bits of shrimp and squid and so far he's shown zero interest. I've waved bits of shrimp in front of his face and so on and he just looks at them. I've also soaked dead food in garlic and vitamins, but still no joy. So he's currently got two large ramshorns wandering around in his tank cleaning up for him - he just doesn't seem to view them as food.

[Pufferpunk]

No, mine nevers bothers with snails either. You're going to have to be patient. Remove all the GS. Mine only eats 1-2x/week, so Tater is gonna have to get hungry enough to eat unfamiliar, dead foods. Start with people shrimp on a string & be patient. You could try soaking it in garlic too. There is an article on this in our Library.

[Content2Swell]

He just thinks he's cute enough to get his way ; )

[Bonsai_girl]

Cheers PP - should've mentioned, the GS aren't in with him all the time, they have their own tank now I've discovered how to not kill them (who'd've thought good water would be fatal?!). He's only had three since I've had him and hasn't had anything else. I've been trying the garlic, and will continue, but I guess as you suggest I'll have to get him hungry.

C2S - thank you He is very cute, and I do have the feeling he's a boy

[js97]

Mine is exactly the same thing... I've had him for two weeks now in a tank by himself, and he east sparingly. I have a few small tetra's that he is kind of interested in but never seems to chase them down. I've successfully fed him a few, but had to get them to swim about an inche by him.

I'm not sure but mine seems to be a very light eater. (one, maybe two bites from the feeder and he leaves the rest. )

[apachepufferman]

I can't get my piscivour to eat anything but ghost shrimp and live fish either. I have put garlic soaked krill and oyster right on his mouth and he won't do anything with it. He just looks at it. So i'm at a loss as well bonsia_girl. If you figure it out let me know.