The Puffer Forum

Hi everyone. I am so happy there is a forum dedicated to puffers. I have a feeling I will need your help the next few weeks. I researched a lot about puffers and finally bought a valentini. My lfs never seemed to comply with ordering one for me so I bought him off bluezooaquatics. He is about an inch. Very adorable. My parameters are good, temp is 78 and he is alone in a 24 gallon nanocube with live rock and a few zoas and cloves. I left him alone yesterday, he arrived by 0830 friday. Today I have tried freeze dried krill (he only pecked at it), frozen brine (he only ate a very small amount), live ghost shrimp that intimated him, and even bought a cockle that I pried open for him and he ignored. I always worry a little when my fish don't start eating well by the 2nd day.

I am thinking he needs more time to settle in but really want some good advice from puffer owners.

Thanks, Donna

okay well I went to the library and found good advice. I will try some bloodworms tomorrow and have some patience with the little one and keep trying a few different frozen foods. If I have to I will try some live brine but will wait a week or two. He's just so little I don't want him to starve!

He just needs to settle in. This is normal behavior.

okay, thank you

If you feed him FW fiids (bloodworms, etc), try soaking them in Selcon & SW vitamins overnight 1st. Mine was reef safe for months & then I found him attacking my clams & LPS. Good luck with him. Note where he sleeps, that will always be his same bed at night.

I couldn't find selcon here but ordered some yesterday so should be here mid-week. I am just going to let him chill the next couple of days and try a little raw shrimp this evening. I'm not putting anything else in the tank but the cloves and zoa. Maybe some gsp that I have. He can nibble on them if he wants. I'd like to put a couple of hermits in there to eat some of his leftovers too, guess I'll try that and see what he does. He is the cutest thing. Thanks for the advice.

Moved to Marine Puffers.

my valentini LOVES mysis shrimp! give that a try.

Yes he is doing better. Eating a little mysis and brine and not quite as shy. I stilll think he's not eating as much as he should but since he's doing better every day am not too worried.