The Puffer Forum

Couldn't find a sub forum on feedings, or guideline on what to feed.

As my tank comes a week from now, and once it's here I'll be working on my sump, leaving me with about less than 2 month before I'm ready to get a Fahaka.

I'm still wondering about this fish's diet.

I have Piranhas (7 of them) and they don't get live food simply because I'm over paranoid of IP(internal Parasite) and the fact that pellets with the mix of raw fish is better for them.

Now when it comes to puffers it's different from what I understand is puffers need foods like snails and crayfish to help wear back their beaks, I'm guessing I could get around this loop by feeding them previously frozen clams, mussels and shrimps with shells on.

Though there's still questions that wonder me.

When I get a Fahaka it'll most likely be a little guy in the 3" range (would like a big one but the chances of that would probably be slim + the cost would probably be a big difference), so what do I feed them when they are under 6" ? I'm sure they wont be able to eat anything big when they're small.

Can Sails, and Crayfish carry parasites?

I have a small 10g tank (that needs to be resealed), I was planning on catching wild crays from the local river for my Piranhas and the Puffer and holding them in the 10g till feedings but after reading and becoming more paranoid about parasites it doesn't seem like a good idea to me. I thought maybe I could breed snails but they for sure wouldn't grow fast enough to be a reliable food source for the fahaka.

I can always pick up snails from the local fish store, they're cheap, but it's not a 100% they'll be free of any parasites... That's if snails are even capable of carrying parasites...


Also one last question,

If it's possible to get the Fahaka to eat sinking pellets for that extra boost of vitamins is it a good idea?

Thank you,

Fahakas may start out tiny, but don't under-estimate them! Mine is near 3" with his tail, and I got him when he was much smaller. I started him on frozen blood worms and earth worms, moving into shell-on-shrimp and clams in shell. I'm working on a snail breeder so he can hunt and crunch. When I do feed him shrimp; I skewer it so it's easy to remove - but he'll tear it apart! I've also tossed in a fiddler crab, and watched him tear him apart. If they were easier to breed in captivity, I'd start him a little crab farm. Hopefully soon I'll be getting my Marbled Crayfish, and he'll have plenty of yummies to eat!

HGI wrote: If it's possible to get the Fahaka to eat sinking pellets for that extra boost of vitamins is it a good idea?

I tried to feed my Fahaka NLS pellets that my cichlids like, and he was not intested but when I droped in a Dainichi "ultima krill" pellet he took to it 1st try. I figure it dose not wear his hardware down quite as well as shellfish but for his size he seems to gnaw on them quite a bit and they are hard pellets so maybe it helps just a little, but I still mix it up with snails/pemysis/live ghost shrimp just to be sure.

My Fahaka Bubbles eats frozen prawns, mussels, squid, octopus, clams as well as live marbled crays and snails. Recently I have found that he enjoys prawn tails the most. This is great for me I like the body not the tail .