The Puffer Forum

I am new to Pea Puffers and could use some guidance. My female shies away from the movements of the Rasboras in the tanks, stays out of the way during a feeding frenzy, and hasn't nipped anything in the 6 weeks I have had her.

She is also living in a tank with a dozen Ghost Shrimp and several tiny feeder snails...and a large Gold snail. She hasn't touched anything! She will keep a very close eye on the snails and move around the tank and visit them but I have seen her take a tiny taste only once weeks ago.

Is there such a thing as a Puffer that is too docile to eat living food? She loves frozen Blood Worms but anything living she just hunts, take a long, hard look at and swims away from.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Shango

try crushing a snail and dropping it in front of her. I'm not positive it will work, but then she may see there's good food to be had inside of that little shell and she may start hunting.

Could you give more information about your tank please? Size, how you cycled it, water parameters, etc.

Pea puffers are more commonly known as dwarf puffers, and DPs are notoriously skittish for the first several weeks (sometimes longer) after they get to their new home. Mine didn't eat anything at all for close to two months. As long as it is eating frozen food, I wouldn't worry about it eating live food. Its not a necessity at all. Its also possible that she's munching on snails when you aren't watching. Mine don't eat anything when I'm standing there watching, they'll only eat when they can't see me.

Ok...so I learned a lesson. Snails should be crushed with fingers, not with a light hammer. I made a mess of a that poor guy. Lesson learned. I will try again when another small snail makes himself visible.

As for the water stats...I cycled it beginning 10 weeks ago. I was at equilibrium as of 3 weeks ago. PH7. The puffer was in the tank through the cycling.

She does seem skittish still. Also, I am a new aquarist so I could be expecting her to adapt too soon.

Thanks for the continuing help

Ok, not sure what you mean by it was at equilibrium, but cycing with a puffer is very bad. Puffers are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrites and should only be introduced into a fully cycled tank.

Some fish adapt faster and easier than others. DPs tend to be on the slower side. It could also be the rasboras bothering her. DPs should be in a species-only tank. The only general exception to tankmates are otos.

What size tank is it, and what kind of decorations are in it? What are the specific water parameters? Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates? And how was it cycled?

Hi and thanks.

Like I said, I am new to this. I now know there were better ways to proceed with the puffer and it should not have been in the tank during the cycle.. I just want to know about the live food issue.

I don't know what else to tell you about the water. I took a sample to my local quality fish store and they said I was cycled. I have also gone back every weekend to make sure it stayed that way as I added fish and it has remained stable. I am unclear how this would effect the puffer eating live food or not. She certainly seems robust.

The Rasboras don't seem to be bothering her. Actually, everyone in the tank just seems to ignore each other excpet when I add bloodworms and then the puffer stays out of the way of the feeding frenzy until some blood worm floats her way.

Yeah, that's pretty much the norm for what they tell you. When you take your water in next time, ask them for specific numbers. "Fine" and "cycled" don't mean anything. You need specifics.

As I said, puffers are highly sensitive to ammonia and nitrites and if there are any in the tank, it could be affecting her health, which would inevitably affect her behavior. And by the rasboras bothering her, I don't mean as in physically pushing her around. I mean the rapid movement may be bothering her. It also may mean that she's afraid to get too close to the live food due to the "feeding frenzy."

I would highly recommend getting a test kit yourself (liquid, not strips) or at the very least, having the LFS tell you exact numbers when they test your water. I would also recommend moving her to a species-only tank for optimal health and well-being.

Ok...that makes sense...the Rasboras are always whipping by her and she looks at them as if they were speeding traffic. Would that influence her to NOT attack a snail she was checking out though?

Don't know, but not all puffers are big snail eaters. You could try crushing one with something other than a sledgehammer. My DPs have shredded everything that's ever been put with them, with the sole exception of an oto. And that includes a HUMONGOUS mystery snail. They ate quite a lot of chunks out of his foot, as well as his antennae. They're now in a planted tank in which I've been breeding snails, so there are at least a hundred baby snails in it. As far as I can tell, they haven't eaten a single one (although I could be wrong, but their tummies don't look like they have). Maybe they aren't into eating, just want to taste.

But also, as I said, they tend to be a little more skittish and high strung than other types of puffers. Much depends on individual personalities. But yes, the speeding traffic could be wigging her out to the point where she'd be afraid to eat a snail. Dunno how likely it is but its a possibility. Fortunately though, DPs don't require snails in their diet as their teeth don't overgrow like other puffer species' do. Its more of a tasty, nutritious snack for them. Same with the live food, its not a requirement but is good for them to have a varied diet. But as long as she's eating something, I wouldn't worry too much, but would definitely work in rehoming her to a place she can be more comfortable, and I'll bet you'll see a real change in her personality.

My dwarf puffers aren't really too interested in snails or shrimp, but they go nuts over live blackworms. However, once I fed live blackworms, they refused frozen bloodworms, so feed at your own risk! Spoiled little buggars...

Mine seem to really like New Life Spectrum small fish formula food as well as whatever they catch in the tank (assuming baby snails, etc).

SomethinFishy wrote:the Rasboras are always whipping by her and she looks at them as if they were speeding traffic. Would that influence her to NOT attack a snail she was checking out though?

Absolutely!

The main issue with mixing DP's in 'community' set-ups is feeding incompatibilities. DP's are slower, and like to investigate their food before striking. This can easily be interrupted by rowdy tank mates. My DP's are even scared off by otos at times.