The Puffer Forum

How long can a puffer fish go without eating? I think he ate a rock and cant pass it...has anyone heard of this?

Well, I know bichirs sometimes eat rocks. If you feel this is the case you can add some epsom salt to help him pass the rock, 1 tbsp/10g.

As far as how long can they go without eating, depends on the size of the fish, but it's a while, something along the lines of 2 weeks if they are healthy.

I moved this to the hospital so you could also answer the questions above in red, lets make sure we have all things covered.

Hes in a 90 gallon tank stars and strip puffer. I know he use to hunt at night so i dont know if he ate something then. He hasnt ate in a week.

We can't help you very well if we don't have more information, could you please answer all the questions above the post in red?
Also, since this is saltwater, the epsom salt dosage is 1 TBSP for every 5 gallons.

I put it with every post but ok....
Nothing has changed in the tank but a water change a few days ago levels are these still
Ph 8.0
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Salinity 30 or 1.022/1.023
Size-90gallon he is the only fish in tank besides one crab and chocolate chip star fish
Eats jumbo krill shrimp canned food have feed him live crawl dad once
Water change about every weekend or 2 weeks about 30 precent change

Ok, well not everyone has read all of your posts, so this is just something that is helpful for this question.
However, have you changed anything about his diet? Because eating krill, as explained in your other post, can cause lockjaw, and in my opinion, he is exhibiting signs of this, and unless you saw him eat a rock, that's probably what is going on. I'm going to link you to the thread again, and there is a treatment plan you can follow. Please read this, and follow the advice within: http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic72164-10-1.aspx
If/when he starts eating again, do not feed him anymore krill.
Here are some feeding ideas:
You can get some non-seasoned, uncooked seafood from a grocery store, like mussels, shrimp, squid etc. I also like to include tilapia and red wriggler worms, (available in bait shops or the bait section at Wal-mart) to offer some thiaminase (An enzyme that inhibits the body's ability to uptake b1) free/low food sources. If the seafood is fresh, freeze it first, and thaw/ soak the food in a bit of tank water (Don't use straight tap) with the addition of vitamins, such as vitachem and Selcon to make sure they are getting balanced nutrition, as freezing does break some of the nutritional value, but it is important to freeze to kill bacteria and or parasites.

Ok yeah i dont want to feed him anymore krill and we got some frozen silver sides but he wont eat those either. I know it sounds gross but he acts like hes constipated. Like he cant pass something.

Well, you can try the epsom salt in addition, but I think it's important that you treat him for the lockjaw as stated in the article I linked.

Nothing other than the crawdads is the proper food for your puffer. You can start by trying live fiddler crabs or earthworms to get him eating again. Then move on to people shrimp, clams, mussels, oysters, crab legs or squid. Try different foods & see what he might like. all bought in the produce dept of your grocery store. Soak in Selcon & vita-Chem & try some garlic juice to enhance appetite.

Eventually, he's going to need a MUCH larger tank.

He finally passed a little something last night but today will be 8 days without food. He loved crawl dads but had to put him in his quarantine tank bc I think it brought ich to our tank months before and haven't got them since so I'm just nervous about putting those in there. He just wont eat. Doesn't show interest in food anymore and I don't know what to do...

I just told you what to do.

And I was just telling You information about my puffer.

OK, & I've given you some good suggestions about what to do next.

Ghost shrimp might get your puffer to eat . They have been appetizing to anything ive put in my fish tank! Worth a try .