The Puffer Forum

So I finally got two pea puffers-it was a long wait from cycling and then the LFS was out of them. I brought home my two last week. Definitely have one male and female.

They are doing great and are really fun to watch. My tank is full of 'decorations' with many spots to hide and three plants. They seem to be happy -they are always up to something-zooming around and hunting the baby snails and are very curious.

So my questions are on feeding. I am feeding freeze dried bloodworms and frozen mysis shrimp (Thawing before feeding)-now these two seem to be able to eat a lot-and are already hanging out and begging when I go by them.

Is it possible to over-feed them? I know that if I feed more then they eat that will pollute the tank quicker but that's not the issue.

They are eating a ton! More then I think is right given their size. They are juevenilles but not that small (I'd say 1/2 way to grown, as they aren't displaying a lot of seconday sex characteristics-there is no belly stripe yet but there are the eye 'wrinkles') -so is it possible to over feed them or will they stop eating when they are full?

I'm dropping in 5-6 blood worms a few times a day and they are gobbling them up and I'm feeding 1/3 of a frozen pellet of mysis shrimp once a day (say the size of a dime maybe? They are eating most of that) -they've eaten one large snail and all the babies already (in five days or so!). Does this sound like a lot? Not enough? Any other suggestions of food types they like? Any guidance is really helpful! Thanks in advance!

Yes, it is possible to overfeed them - and from what you've posted, you might be doing it. It's typical for puffers to eat until they burst, if allowed to, so don't expect them to push away their plate after a few bites and say, "No more, thanks - I'm full." My dwarf puffers get 2-3 blood worms or mysis shrimp per day, and the tank is "dosed" with home-raised small pond and ramshorn snails on a regular basis so they get plenty of those to help keep them happy.

I agree with markrush, puffers in general will keep eating as much as you give them, they are born piglets. But I think one thing I would change in your routine, if I were you, is to feed just once a day instead of multiple times a day. Can you get any frozen bloodworms instead of the freeze-dried ones? I give my DP's a little bit of cut-up shrimp (I've also got gobies in that tank, and the gobies love the shrimp too) but not all of my dwarf puffers will eat the shrimp, they mostly like the bloodworms best. I usually put a 1/4 teaspoon in the tank, but again, I've got more than just the DP's in there also. I don't think of the snails I put in the tank as their meal, but more of a treat because they aren't that keen on the snails, but will peck at them from time to time.
Mainly I would stick to one set feeding time, at the same time each day, and don't give in after feeding time is over. See how that goes. That's what how I feed all my puffers, and they all know when it's meal time too.

Hmm I wonder if I'm not feeding my pea puff enough. I just feed some live blackworms once a day, sometimes skipping a day. He's a very picky eater. All he will eat are live, wriggling worms. He will eat frozen bloodworms some, but not much, so I mainly stick with the blackworms that he loves. Anything else that does not look like a wiggling worm, such as frozen krill, shrimps, frozen brine shrimp, or baby snails, he does not seem to recognize as food.

I don't think I've ever had a picky dwarf puffer before. I've got other picky puffers, but not my dwarf puffers.

I've never given my girls live foods other than snails and I'd rather not because I'd hate for them to suddenly see the otos and the amano as a buffet. The only thing I've been able to get them to eat are frozen bloodworms and snails. I started mixing frozen daphnia up in some of the bloodworms, but I stopped when I realized they were completely ignoring it.

When I got them, I followed the original owner's diet plan: a tiny chunk of frozen bloodworms every day of the week but one, on which they would fast. Since then, I've gradually increased the amount and added occasional snails, but I'll still fast them for a day weekly.

Thanks guys!

Are they really supposed to fast one day a week?

I give my DP's a little bit of cut-up shrimp

Like shrimp shrimp-like shrimps that people eat? I've been giving some frozen mysis shrimps.

I feed all my smaller puffers daily, but that's just me. And yes, I actually buy shrimp that are intended for human consumption (the jumbo ones), and I cut them up in pieces.

Cool! I have a TON of frozen shrimp in my freezer-bought a bunch at xmas for parties-but totally overestimated what people would eat. I'm a veg so they are just sitting and getting freezer burn :p I'll see if they like them Thanks!

To answer your question, you don't have to fast your fish, I just wound up including it in the diet plans of my fish in my quest to avoid overfeeding. Especially when one keeps little beggars like oranda goldies, one has to remain strong in the face cute, hungry eyes.

When feeding frozen shrimp is it important to buy raw? I see there are a lot of pre cooked frozen shrimp. I have never seen a fish cooking shrimp so I figured I'd buy raw. Any opinions?

I buy fresh caught or raw. I get like one or two pieces of crab, shrimp, or one whole oyster. My F8 loves raw oysters, only at room temp tho

Im sure pre-cooked is okay, but make sure to look at ingredients. If its anything you cant pronounce... dont give it to the puffers : ] But honestly just cooking something shouldnt be an issue.

I buy raw sometimes, but I also buy packs of pre-cooked shrimp and mussels. I always check the ingredients to make sure there's nothing extra being added, like garlic or spices. If it's just plain shrimp or mussels then I don't see the harm and my puffers seem to be okay with eating it. But I try to give them variety and don't feed them the same exact thing every night.

pufferpuggirl wrote:I always check the ingredients to make sure there's nothing extra being added, like garlic or spices.

I recently called Hikari to ask them about making dried tubifex worms more appetizing for some of my fish that generally wouldn't touch them (not my puffers - wasn't trying to feed it to them) and the person I spoke to actually suggested spraying them with garlic (I'm guessing there's something like a garlic-flavored Pam or whatever). Now, I don't know if garlic would give fish any benefit as it does humans, but it's interesting that this was Hikari's suggestion.

My goldies love the dried tubifex, so it hasn't been dire for me to get the spray and try it, but it's something I'll keep in mind.

Well actually several people on this forum will tell you that they've had very good success getting their puffers to eat medicated food if it's soaked in garlic, however, my puffers did not seem to care for the garlic. But really what I meant when I made that comment about shrimp or mussels not having anything added is that I just think it's better to get "naked" food, without any additives, because usually if garlic is added to seafood made for humans it's in a sauce, not just pure garlic.