The Puffer Forum

hello. how many times should i feed my 8 inch puffer fish? i am very new to keeping pufferfish. i will be gettin my 8 inch fahaka puffer in a few days and i just need to know a few things about it. i know what to feed (snails) i just need to know how many snails and how many times a day?

No more than every 3 days. Please read the feeding article in our Library for more ideas, so your puffer gets a balanced diet.

Is the tank you have for him cycled? How large is it?

yea its been cycling i actually have piranahs in it right now but looking to sell them before getting the puffer so its all good. its a 50 gallon tank

Be prepared to move that fahaka into a 120g minimum, within the next year or less.

I think, for a 8"fahaka 50 gal is to smal.. Mijn is also 8" and lives in a 100gal tank, and i already begin to see that she wants bigger..

About the feading, i give her every 4 days. Lot's of difrent stuff en i also try to hide some food between the plants, so she must do a little more for her food

i feed my 8" fahaka every day.... but i feed him small meals once a day instead of a large meal every 3. i feed small meals because it seems easier to digest than a very large meal at one time
i also vary his diet more than just snails. i feed mine a combo of mussels, krill, frozen shrimp with shells on (the ones people eat for dinner), snails (both large and small for varying shell thicknesses) i try to give him a varied diet so he gets all his nutrients, and also so he doesnt become picky.... i think im feeding him right.... iono, he seems happy lol

PS-good luck! you are going to love your fahaka! mine is like a dog he lets you pet his head and everything..... lets you pet his body if you put your hand in the tank... but he actually comes to the top for head pets hehe

I feed mine a variety as well...He really likes crayfish but I also give him soft worms, bloodworms, shrimp, snails, clams etc.

Feeding an adult Fahaka every three to four days will keep him from becoming overweight and lazy. I give mine a small treat in between feedings from time to time but do not make a habit of it. Over feeding your puffer can take years off his life...I know it will be hard to resist giving him all the food he wants but you could be killing him with kindness if you give in.

There are 5 great feeding articles in the library..reading all of them will help you out greatly..
library/category/feeding/

P.S..

Welcome to the forum!!