The Puffer Forum

Hello,

I have a juvenile porcupine puffer that is about 3-3.5 inches that I just got from Diver's Den. I was just wondering if there is any special dietary needs for smaller puffers compared to adults (i.e. need more of something)? He is eating already this moring. I have offered clam on the half shell (ignored), mysis, jumbo mysis (hikari) and rods reef. He seems to relish the jumbo hikari whole mysis shrimp. This weekend I am going to a LFS that sells an abundance of frozen shelled foods like mussel, cockle and the like. He seems to like nori too. I use vita-chem, vitamin c and selcon as far as vitamins are concerned at every 3rd feeding. I feed twice a day (big meals) and do 20% weekly water changes. He is in a 180g and the skimmer is rated for 200g heavy bioload or about 500g light. Tank mates are 2 ocellaris clowns, 2 blue throat triggers (small about 3.5 inches) and a yellow tang. Everyone has left him alone and if I run into problems, I have a 75g ready that is up and running.

Tonight I'll try some squid and shelled clam again.

At this size (3.5 inches), could I try small snails (like stomatella, nasarius, etc.) and hermit crabs or do you think it would be best to not offer live foods since he is already eating frozen?

Thanks in Advance.

You don't need to pay the higher prices for those foods at your LFS. All his foods can be purchased from the produce dept at your local grocery store.

Thanks Pufferpunk.