The Puffer Forum

Had a rescue case puffer come to me awhile ago and she would simply not eat any variety of things put in front of her living or otherwise. What finally made a difference was taking a wooden skewer and a fresh market (w' shell, legs, vein, etc) shrimp, putting it on the end of the skewer, and bopping her in the face with it until she got pissed off enough at it to "hit" (bite) the shrimp. It then dawns on them that it is yummy/food/etc. I used a full size shrimp since we were talking about an 10" Arothron Meleagris (Guinea Fowl Puffer) but vary the food to prey size.

I did this as a last resort when ghost shrimp, fresh clams/oysters, squid, scallops, mysis, pellet, flake, etc all failed. Even put a FW fiddler crab in with her (with large claw plucked off) and she just ignored it.

Just thought this might help anyone with a problem eater....sometimes a puffer hunger strike (not uncommon) can extend long enough that they forget they need to eat. This can help remind them....

Hope this helps....Lee

Thanks for the info!

Kinda cruel technique. But hey, it will keep them from starving.

I did similarly with my SA puffer (now in heaven). Though, I used big fat bloodworms and keep bouncing them off her head until she got irritated enough to take a bite. It works sometimes.

Only time this doesn't work is when the fish is so traumatized or submissive that it just curls up (tail pinched and tucked sideways) and shuts down. In that case you kind of have to back off, turn off the lights, and let them chill... That said, when this doesn't work your chances are grim in my experience. That is why its kinda a last resort...

PS I'd generally advise against trying to force feed a puffer, since they can puff/shrink via swallowing stuff they can just puke back out whatever you try to give them. Again, another "last ditch" technique...

BTW Just want to add to this, this process should not be done with porc puffs. These guys puff to easily and seem really passive to attacks.