The Puffer Forum

Hi guys, juz got a 10" fahaka last saturday. Its wa already skinny when i got it, so I treat it for IP it from yesterday. It was still eating on frozen shrimp when i got it.
How can i fatten it up?
Currently i continue to feed with frozen shrimps with shell. got some frozen mussle n saw it ate a little of it last nite.
Attached is a video of it, pls let me know what u guy think of it? does it look OK?
the video was taken after it was intro into the tank. it has since sit at the corner of the tank n comes out only during feeding ...

Any advise given will be much appreciated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckHpc2qoY5w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckHpc2qoY5w[/youtube]

He doesn't look thin to me at all. I expected to see a sickly emaciated puffer! Just feed him normally, about every 3 days.
library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/

I'd get that goldfish out of there. Without killing it.

And I hope you know not to feed them fish as it is bad for their livers.

I missed the GF: library/feeding/feeders/

thx pufferpunk & sgtmyers88.

That's a relieve that the puffer is ok. i thought it was rather skinny. i tracked it back to previous owner's video n it looked much fatter...

I didn't know feeder fish are not for them...
so i can feed them every 3 days? not daily? OK - let me read thru the links first ...

Feeder fish are really not for any captive pet unless they have been quarantined, treated for their many diseases &/or parasites, and fed well for ~4 or more weeks to get them heaalthy and well-nourished. That in effect means that they are hardly worth the trouble. For me it requires a series of tanks (at least 3) to (1)QT & treat, (2)Feed and condition, and (3) In-use feeders.

I do have an old strain of guppies which have been in my care >30 years which I have used as movable stock to hold the biofilters in otherwise unoccupied tanks, and whch are available as snall feeders if needed temporarily for piscivoorous fish while they are being trained to other foods. But most folks don't have enough space and spare tanks to make it worthwhile.

Fat fish are NOT healthy fish!

juz an update... the fahaka ate 1 pc mussle and some shrimp (cut to small pieces) last nite. This morning ate a few small pieces of shrimps left over from mbu tank. so i guess its appetite is getting better. hope to fatten it a little. it is also more responsive when i come to the front of the tank...

will update some pics n vid over the weekend...

juz a quick update..

the fahaka is eating well last nite. took 2crayfish, 1.5 mussel n small pieces of shrimp... so i will be feeding it daily for now until it looks a little rounder then go to 2x weekly ...
thx for all the advise given.