The Puffer Forum

I just got a porcupine puffer. In the past I had no luck with puffers for some reason. 3 in the past died of various reason last being a a bacterial infection. I took a break from puffers due to being frustrated as I dont like seeing animals die on me. Went to my local fish store and they had a porcupine puffer for $15 on sale. I could not resist the deal. He was very active, great colors and looked good. I took him home and acclimated him and put him in the tank. 125 gal tank with a wrasp and paccso trigger. All the same size. He went down in the rocks for the evening and I checked on him early this morning as he was swimming around nicely. Every time i go near the tank he blows up so I kept my distance due to I dont want to stress him. What steps do I need to take to get him eating and what steps can I take to maintain him. I have done some research on how to keep a puffer but Im kind of nervous. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Welcome to the forum

Here is a feeding articles
library/category/feeding/

And here is info on marine puffers
library/puffers-in-focus/big-marine-pufferfish-care/

And here is porky info
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Marine/D_Holocanthus/

today I seen him chewing on a empty snail shell. By me having a trigger and a wrasse in the tank I waited to the lights go off then the other fish go to bed. That is when I notice the puffer lurking around. So I put half a shrimp in the tank for him to eat. It is pitch black when the lights is off so would the puffer find the shrimp. Guess I will check in a few hours. He still is puffing up when ever I come near the tank. Guess he have to get use to me huh? Thanks for your info

If I remember correctly, porcs are more active at nght.

I think I remember pufferpunk saying she would see them at night when she went diving

Yeah, I never get why they're so shy & nocturnal, considering they have 3 forms or protection from predators!

Pufferpunk wrote:Yeah, I never get why they're so shy & nocturnal, considering they have 3 forms or protection from predators!

1. Thick skin
2. Poison
3. Spikes
4. Inflatable
5. Teeth
6. Intelligence
7. "This is my ocean, I just let you swim in it" attitude

godspeed wrote:today I seen him chewing on a empty snail shell. By me having a trigger and a wrasse in the tank I waited to the lights go off then the other fish go to bed. That is when I notice the puffer lurking around. So I put half a shrimp in the tank for him to eat. It is pitch black when the lights is off so would the puffer find the shrimp. Guess I will check in a few hours. He still is puffing up when ever I come near the tank. Guess he have to get use to me huh? Thanks for your info

Did you check with your LFS what they were feeding your porky on?

When I got my mbu, he'd come straight from the wholesaler and no-one knew what he'd been eating ...it took nearly a week for him to accept the yummy goodness i was trying to tempt him with...It was a very fraught week for all 3 of us...

purplecandle wrote:

Pufferpunk wrote:Yeah, I never get why they're so shy & nocturnal, considering they have 3 forms or protection from predators!

1. Thick skin
2. Poison
3. Spikes
4. Inflatable
5. Teeth
6. Intelligence
7. "This is my ocean, I just let you swim in it" attitude

you forgot the hypnotic ability to make humans into fish-feeding slaves...

Just a update on my puffer. He is eating like crazy. I been feeding him shrimp. I have to stop myself. In the evening when I walk past the tank it comes to the front and just loo at me. I be so tempted to give him something more to eat. I dont though. Wanna hear something funny. I walked pass the tank this afternoon and it was in the upper back corner floating not moving or nothing. I thought It was dead and I even poked it with my finger and nothing. I guess it was just sleeping. I was like If it was dead I will never buy another puffer.

Please be sure you vary his diet.