The Puffer Forum

Hey guys,
Thought I'd say hi I'm a new member and just picked up a fahaka puffer on Friday, soo a quick question? ATM I have him in a 40gallon tank, he's only about an inch long, I have a piece of bogwood and a few plants in there. The thing is he generally just stay hidden in the plants all day? Would there be any obvious reason for this? It's way over filtered with a rena xp4. All water params are ok, and before anybody asks I have a 130gallon for him to go in when he's a bigger boy any help on my lazy puffer would be appreciated cheers guys

Welcome to the forum

He's small at the moment and settling in, try to keep low lighting on the tank while he gets used to his new surroundings then he should come out as he gets braver and used to you.They can be quite skittish so avoid any fast movements directly in front of the tank. If you have a sand substrate you may find he will bury himself to hide. Keep tempting with food and if he's eating well will come to greet you when hungry and then totally ignore you when he's not.

welcome to the forum!

It has only been 3 days and with a strange face he doesn't know. Once you start feeding he will associate you with "good" and not the trauma of the move.

I think

Hi and

I think you need to remember just how small this guy is, and he's probably feeling a bit vulnerable, so I would guess that's why he's hiding. As Hilly says, he will become bolder and will venture out, but give him time. You've got a good long time to enjoy his antics and I'm sure you will be amused by some of the things they get up to.

Thanks for all the quick replys what should I feed him at this size? He had a little nibble on a prawn yesterday but that's all I've been able to temp him with so far, shall I buy some snails? I have a piranha tank which has a few growing, I did place a few in the puffer tank, they have all gone already porky puffer

pond/rams horn snails the size of his eye, earthworms that have been cut in half or better if needed.


and like said before he is hiding to adjust. give him some time. They are a fun fish to have, I love mine

Try him with small pieces of Mussel and perhaps half a cockle in shell.

Pufferpunk wrote:library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/

+1 to the above.
Mine is real small 2 inch but not as shy.
He is loving earth worms and I'm gonna try him on some ramshorn snails tomorrow.

Congrats on the new wee Fahaka, and welcome to the forum

You will find some good info in that feeding article, and you can try enticing him with a worm. At that size mine enjoyed blood worms - the current made them wiggle and he'd gobble them all up. He really isn't into them much now that he's older though.

Might we get a glance at your tank too? If there isn't enough cover to make him feel secure then he will hide more too. Just a few plants and some bog wood may not be enough to make him feel safe. Maybe more plants or more hidey holes will make him feel more at ease (more places to hide the more they come out.)

Okay I'll try sone bloodworm thanks, I have since removed the plants as leaves floating around my tank annoys the he'll out of me. He's in a strange size tank it's 36inches long 15inches tall and 22inches wide, I really like this fish, is a rena xp3 adequate filtration? Thanks

never used a Rena xP3 filter before but for what its rated for it sounds like overkill for a tank that size.
Rena Filstar xP3
Aquarium size 250 - 600 litres .
Filter Outflow 1350 litres an Hour .
Filter Box Volume 9.1litres

Whats the circulation in the tank like? and has the little fella eaten anything yet?

I am currently using the xp3 in my 80G.

It's my first canister and I don't know anything else, but I'm happy with it.

I would also vouch for the earthworm recommendations.
My guy didn't eat for a week, so I started him on the worms like everyone said - it worked.

The current doesn't seem to be too powerfully, as for feeding he ate a few bites ov prawn this morning an I'm pretty sure he's eaten alot of the trumpet snails that the fish shop I got him from gave me, I'm away in London at the moment until tomorrow night so I'm afraid I can't do a picture. I will as soon as I get back, thanks

I would get the trumpets out of that tank ASAP. They can crack his tooth leading to a ton of problems