The Puffer Forum

Hi i have had the privilege to buy a red eye puffer, the only issue is it will not eat any snails..

I have had the miss fortune of changing my pump and loosing the bio filter. so had to kick start my tank with live bacteria gel and quick start solution.

How do i entice my litte missy to eat the daarn snails?


any comments/suggestions welcome.

thanks

D

Same user on Tropical Fish Keeping?


Welcome to the forum!!

We'll have to get over you're emergency cycle first.

For those that haven't followed here is the link:
http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/fres ... own-85207/


Dan here will still need some feeding recommendations once the crisis is over.

Sorry I was a little harsh, there is a lack of "responsible" people over there.

Hi J-P,

Yeah it Djriff from other forum..

your right gotta get the crisis sorted asap..

Then feeding guidance will be much appreciated!

Best

D

The may be several reasons your puffer might not be eating snails. Had he been eating them previously? How big are the ones you are offering him? Is he eating anything?

What are your water parameters?

no test kit yet... coming tomorrow.

Meds killed his biofilter so he's in the middle of an emergency cycle. Starting all over again.

Would just like to clarify the water changes, sorry if this sounds dumb but i am new to the technical side and have been winging it from what i am starting to understand.

If the new filter has not "got" the good bacteria even though i used active bacteria gel and tetra safe start yesterday. is it safe to be doing the water changes as the good bacteria is not established?

thanks

D

one more thing if doing the water changes should i be adding tap safe to the tank or wait till everything has calmed down?

Aah the snails are of all sizes and 2 different types. I don't think he has had a taste of them as of yet.. when i first added him 4 days ago, he would eat live bloodworm .. but since then he hasn't touched a thing.. he has only just today livened up and started to swim about again.

but i have been warned about feeding at the moment as it will only add to the crisis...

The bacteria takes time to populate you are correct.

There are 2 scenarios:
1) Without water treatment and large water changes it may take longer for the bacteria to seed but it will eventually. You can't ever take out 100%. What you want is to keep the ammonia DOWN.

2) With water treatment the ammonia is rendered inert and will not harm your fish but still readable on the scale. It is like a false alarm. The bacteria don't know this and still consume the ammonia producing that milky white water.

You will get that milky white either way... With water treatment (Safe Start) your fish are "safe", without it is called a tank crash.

Give 48 hours after adding live bacteria to your filter before doing a water change, to let the bacteria take hold. Unless you get an ammonia/nitrite spike. Then it is more important not to let your fish be poisoned by this. You need to get liquid test kits, TODAY!

Thanks .. i think i will just let things calm down in the tank.. give it 48 hrs and test the status o the tank shortly.

appreciate the feed back thanks

D

A small tip for feeding snails: Try crushing the snail(s) first. My puffer won't just crunch down on a whole snail -- he prefers them smashed first. I think it makes them smell more enticing (i.e. bloody). Your puff will still get the benefit of the snail shell's crunchiness.

+1

Thanks all for your posts.

Yeah sorry for not updating earlier, yeah little beauty is doing ok, as we speak she is swimming around curled to the side inspecting the place.... have to say a little clumsily though.. bumps into everything.. but compared to yesterday a hell of an improvement!

The water has almost settle to perfect clarity.. slightest of milk shade there.

Tried to feed some frozen Blood worms earlier but didn't take to them.. unfortunately i haven't got any live ones..

There are hundreds of snails though..

not quite sure how to get him to eat them though..

any suggestion..

Also do you think i should do a 50 % water change ?

hope all is well with you and thanks again.

J-P has suggested the fish might have nitrite poisoning, hence his clumsiness and bumping into thing.. is this permanent?



best

Dan

If things are off whack do a large waterchange yes. Keep that Ammo down

Someone already suggested pre-crushing the snails so the blood is released.