The Puffer Forum

Okay so I already went on a trip but I just got a puffer fish and was wondering, how am I supposed to feed him when I'm gone? Do I just leave shrimp inside the tank? I'm not sure if he would eat them all in one day or what. What do you guys suggest?

well how long are you going to be gone? and do you have any friends you can trust?

If your talking market shrimp, no. Never leave food like that in the tank for long. If your talking live stuff then you could toss them in at night, that way they have a chance to hide in the cover of darkness lol.

But if your going to be gone for a week then you can give them one good meal right before you leave and they should be good when you get back, if they are health. Also do a good water change right before you leave

I never feed my puffers (or any other fish) when I'm on vacation. Most fishes can go for two weeks without food. The problem with feeding while on vacation is that the water quality is getting worse, and you have no way to do water changes.

When I know I'm gonna be gone for awhile I usually throw about 3 or 4 ghost shrimp in my tank and there is usually always one left when I get back. I've never had anything die while away. Fish are usually pretty hardy when it comes to eating. I'm sure not all wild fish eat everyday so it doesn't seem like a bad idea to not feed them for a week. If they are hungry enough they'll find something lol.

Oh okay then. So if I'm gonna be gone for like 2 weeks I can just throw in some shrimp? It wont be till next year again but I dont want him to be with me for a year and he dies when i get back:( but I hope ou guys are right!!!

Or get a puffersitter to pop in a couple of times

What kind of puffer do you have, and how large is it?

I would recommend you find a puffer sitter. I don't think 2 weeks is very good for it. I hope you have trustworthy friends/neighbors.

ok well they are trust worthy, but I don't think they would gie him the care that I would give him. He's a figure 8 and is a little less than 2 inches. maybe 1 and 3/4

just have premeasured food for them. So they wont over feed. And do a big water change right before you leave so you dont have to worry about them doing it for you

My tank sitters only feed every 3 days.

yep when i went on vacation, I had my mom come feed them worms(dont have to measure em that way) every 3 days