The Puffer Forum

Hello everyone! I am not sure if anyone else have ever had this problem but here goes. I had walked into my room and I looked in my tank and saw my GSP (Juvenile, just got him yesterday) eating something that I never put in the tank. When I looked at it closer, he was eating a stink bug that had flown into the tank. He had munched away at the stink bugs wings and its stomach. I figured Chewy (that is my gsp's name ) had a great meal. Now I am concerned if he will be okay from eating one of those pesky bugs.

Is there anything I can do to help him digest the stink bug some way? Like feed him a specific thing to clean out his system while he digests the stink bug? Thank you all in advance!

laauurreeennnn wrote:Hello everyone! I am not sure if anyone else have ever had this problem but here goes. I had walked into my room and I looked in my tank and saw my GSP (Juvenile, just got him yesterday) eating something that I never put in the tank. When I looked at it closer, he was eating a stink bug that had flown into the tank. He had munched away at the stink bugs wings and its stomach. I figured Chewy (that is my gsp's name ) had a great meal. Now I am concerned if he will be okay from eating one of those pesky bugs.

Is there anything I can do to help him digest the stink bug some way? Like feed him a specific thing to clean out his system while he digests the stink bug? Thank you all in advance!

probably not much you can do at this point, but i don't think you need to worry about it
isn't the tank covered somehow?
tell us more about your puffer & tank.............

The vast majority of stink bugs aren't toxic to animals, just smelly, so your puffer should be just fine.I had the same question when my little dachshund ate one and the vet said that it couldn't hurt the dog in any way. I'm guessing it was one of the wide brownish/black ones?

eieio wrote:

laauurreeennnn wrote:Hello everyone! I am not sure if anyone else have ever had this problem but here goes. I had walked into my room and I looked in my tank and saw my GSP (Juvenile, just got him yesterday) eating something that I never put in the tank. When I looked at it closer, he was eating a stink bug that had flown into the tank. He had munched away at the stink bugs wings and its stomach. I figured Chewy (that is my gsp's name ) had a great meal. Now I am concerned if he will be okay from eating one of those pesky bugs.

Is there anything I can do to help him digest the stink bug some way? Like feed him a specific thing to clean out his system while he digests the stink bug? Thank you all in advance!

probably not much you can do at this point, but i don't think you need to worry about it
isn't the tank covered somehow?
tell us more about your puffer & tank.............

Hi! I have a 30 gallon tank with one gsp that is approximately an inch along with his tail. I do have a hood over the tank. The only part that is not covered on the tank is where the filter is hanging. Those stink bugs literally get in every little place that it can find light and I guess since my room was dark minus the tank, it flew into there. Even though I really hate stink bugs, I was a little weirded out that Chewy ate it. I know freeze dried brine helps with digestion so I gave him a small piece. He's acting pretty normal. Still looking for food and he still has big belly. I guess I'll just have to wait.

he'll be fine..................
what else are you feeding him?

Reaperpilot2014 wrote:The vast majority of stink bugs aren't toxic to animals, just smelly, so your puffer should be just fine.I had the same question when my little dachshund ate one and the vet said that it couldn't hurt the dog in any way. I'm guessing it was one of the wide brownish/black ones?

yes! I despise these bugs with a fiery passion. They are literally EVERYWHERE inside and outside of my house. This summer though isn't as bad as last summer. Thank you for your reply though! I guess Chewy got himself a meal then

Yeah... I really wouldn't worry about it. At all. Koodos to you for doing your best to take care of him though.

eieio wrote:he'll be fine..................
what else are you feeding him?

For now, just the freeze dried brine shrimps and snails. I'm planning on getting some bloodworms but since there is a hurricane on it's way here, that has been postponed until this hurricane blows over and I successfully move back into school with Chewy.

laauurreeennnn wrote:yes! I despise these bugs with a fiery passion. They are literally EVERYWHERE inside and outside of my house. This summer though isn't as bad as last summer. Thank you for your reply though! I guess Chewy got himself a meal then

in Arizona this time of year (wet season), stink bugs are all over the place
they're harmless..........
hope you get through the hurricane OK!

Maybe you'll get lucky. Maybe your GSP will hypnotize ALL your stinkbugs into wanting to take a dip in his tank lol. They really are annoying little bugs. Agreed about the hurricane!

I've had stink bugs in many to most of my tanks over the last three years, with no issues to date. Most of them appear to have just drowned without being eaten. They mostly appear intact when dipped out. But I have not been concerned over them.

This summer has been been much lighter on them than the prior two for us as well.

May i ask what stink bugs are?

bertie 83 wrote:May i ask what stink bugs are?

http://www.google.com/search?q=stink+bu ... 5&bih=1058

bertie 83 wrote:May i ask what stink bugs are?

I can send you a lifetime supply if you'd like

I looked into my GSP tank yesterday and he had a full lady bug sticking out of his mouth, with legs still moving. He swallowed it whole. I was worried about him eating a non-food type insect as well, but he just got a rounded belly and continued swimming. No issues.