My puffer is starving to death

mvigor · 03-09-2007, 01:42 PM

My puffer is starving to death. I have a very small freshwater dwarf indian puffer. He is getting extremely gaunt/thin.

He lives in a planted 5 gallon setup and has dozens of tiny snails to choose from for his meals, including pond snails, common ramshorn and trumpet snails.

I throw fish food in every week or so for the snails. The puffer is seen "hunting" nightly, stalking and pouncing on the snails, but I guess he doesn't eat them.

Is there any "emergency" food I can offer him tonight?

DaisyTattoo · 03-09-2007, 01:46 PM

Maybe some bloodworms?

mvigor · 03-09-2007, 01:49 PM

Yes! I haven't ever had any bloodworms, so I'll have to check the 2 LFS in town on my way back home tonight. Excellent idea...thank you!

DaisyTattoo · 03-09-2007, 02:03 PM

No prob!

OrionGirl · 03-09-2007, 02:03 PM

Other potential problem is that the poor things has internal parasites. It's a common problem with puffers. If this is the case, it won't matter HOW much you feed him, he'll never fatten up.

If you know the fish is eating well, I'd start treating for internal parasites. Can't offer much guidance in specifics, though...Sorry!

reiverix · 03-09-2007, 02:40 PM

You might also want to try live blackworms. My DPs find them irresistable.

RTR · 03-09-2007, 03:37 PM

i agree w/reiverix - DPs love live blacworms. Pick up a feeder cone to dispense them - DPs examine everything carefully before they bite and the cone gives them time for examination before the worms escape.

If that does not fatten the fish up, it is likely IPs - as already noted.

mvigor · 03-09-2007, 05:16 PM

I checked tonight and the LFS does not have any live food, just frozen, and a limited selection at that.

I brought home some frozen brine shrimp and the puffer didn't eat any while I was watching.

The thought of internal parasites has merit, but I have had this puffer for at least 4 months now...wouldn't he be dead already if he was a host?

Online source for blackworms??????

OrionGirl · 03-09-2007, 08:24 PM

Nope--parasites that kill their hosts off are bad news, and are very rare. Parasites kill off fish in our tanks because they can become so concentrated. With internal parasites they often don't reproduce, so it end up being a low level infection--enough to prevent the fish from thriving, not enough to be lethal.

There are sources of live foods online...The Bug Farm, your source for live food cultures and supplies. it one I've heard lots of good things about.

jotn · 10-05-2007, 04:42 AM

Hello, I am new here, but just saw this thread. I have a a small green spotted puffer, and couln't entice him to eat, until I bought some frozen bloodworms. I thawed a little in some of the tank water, and he went wild!! He will nibble on some other stuff now, but he loves those bloodworms.

sarcare · 10-05-2007, 06:50 AM

welcome jotn! I do the same with my puffers--though they do best when I put them in a cone feeder, so they can examine them well.

So MG, did your puff make it?

mvigor · 11-07-2007, 07:45 AM

Sadly, no, I wasn't able to save the puffers. The next time I try them (and I will because they are VERY COOL) I'll already have the live and frozen food supplies going. Worm cultures, a tank of baby pond snails, freezer full of blood worms, etc. Puffers aren't the easiest fish.

PufferMom · 11-07-2007, 10:03 AM

No, they aren't the easiest but are definitely worth the effort it takes.

mvigor · 11-07-2007, 10:09 AM

Can the tiny guys I was keeping (dwarf indian puffer) live in bigger groups? I'd love to get 10 of them for a planted 20 long.

Are they as likely as any other fish to have parasites?

PufferMom · 11-07-2007, 10:41 AM

DPs, IME, have a higher rate of having intestinal parasites than any other fish, puffers included, I have ever had. I would recommend treating them as soon as you get them. Just remember that treating the tank doesn't do any good, you have to treat their food.

Yes, they can often successfully be kept in larger groups. The more you have, the higher chance of problems, so that's something to keep in mind. There is someone I know that has a huge herd of them in a 92g tank I believe. Their behavior is different in larger groups, they seem to be more into loose schools than when they are in smaller groups.

sarcare · 11-07-2007, 11:47 AM

I have 7 in a 30g, which is a bit on the heavy stocking level, as they can get crowded and fiesty at feeding times. I've heard anything from 5g to 8g per fish, which I'm clearly not so good on

RTR · 11-07-2007, 02:18 PM

My largest crowd of dwarf puffers was 5 in a 29, and that was a very stable group. The tank was heavily planted, so no schooling behavior was seen.

sarcare · 11-07-2007, 02:41 PM

I had four in there, and that was pretty stable, but then I got John's three, and they are still sorting that out. Hopefully they will settle down--though they have tons of hiding spots, and only can all be seen at feeding times.

PufferMom · 11-07-2007, 09:09 PM

I don't recommend more than 1 per 5 gallons, especially when kept in multiples.

03-09-2007, 01:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
mvigor Water keeper Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 451	My puffer is starving to death My puffer is starving to death. I have a very small freshwater dwarf indian puffer. He is getting extremely gaunt/thin. He lives in a planted 5 gallon setup and has dozens of tiny snails to choose from for his meals, including pond snails, common ramshorn and trumpet snails. I throw fish food in every week or so for the snails. The puffer is seen "hunting" nightly, stalking and pouncing on the snails, but I guess he doesn't eat them. Is there any "emergency" food I can offer him tonight? __________________ ~=~MY AQUARIUMS~=~ \| Christian Sermon Audio Archive \| Genealogy

03-09-2007, 01:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
DaisyTattoo #2 in the oven... Join Date: May 2006 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 2,979	Maybe some bloodworms? __________________ It's not easy being a mother. If it were, fathers would do it.

03-09-2007, 01:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
mvigor Water keeper Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 451	Yes! I haven't ever had any bloodworms, so I'll have to check the 2 LFS in town on my way back home tonight. Excellent idea...thank you! __________________ ~=~MY AQUARIUMS~=~ \| Christian Sermon Audio Archive \| Genealogy

03-09-2007, 02:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
DaisyTattoo #2 in the oven... Join Date: May 2006 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 2,979	No prob! __________________ It's not easy being a mother. If it were, fathers would do it.

03-09-2007, 02:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
OrionGirl Miss you, Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Location: California coastline Posts: 6,671	Other potential problem is that the poor things has internal parasites. It's a common problem with puffers. If this is the case, it won't matter HOW much you feed him, he'll never fatten up. If you know the fish is eating well, I'd start treating for internal parasites. Can't offer much guidance in specifics, though...Sorry! __________________ ~Sheila tempus edax rerum Ideas do not have to be correct in order to be good; its only necessary that, if they do fail, they do so in an interesting way. ~Robert Rosen

03-09-2007, 02:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
reiverix Ach Join Date: May 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,763	You might also want to try live blackworms. My DPs find them irresistable. __________________ John R Puffer Forum

03-09-2007, 03:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
RTR RTR Join Date: May 2006 Location: Exurban MD, USA Posts: 834	i agree w/reiverix - DPs love live blacworms. Pick up a feeder cone to dispense them - DPs examine everything carefully before they bite and the cone gives them time for examination before the worms escape. If that does not fatten the fish up, it is likely IPs - as already noted. __________________ Where's the fish? - Neptune

03-09-2007, 05:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
mvigor Water keeper Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 451	I checked tonight and the LFS does not have any live food, just frozen, and a limited selection at that. I brought home some frozen brine shrimp and the puffer didn't eat any while I was watching. The thought of internal parasites has merit, but I have had this puffer for at least 4 months now...wouldn't he be dead already if he was a host? Online source for blackworms?????? __________________ ~=~MY AQUARIUMS~=~ \| Christian Sermon Audio Archive \| Genealogy

03-09-2007, 08:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
OrionGirl Miss you, Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Location: California coastline Posts: 6,671	Nope--parasites that kill their hosts off are bad news, and are very rare. Parasites kill off fish in our tanks because they can become so concentrated. With internal parasites they often don't reproduce, so it end up being a low level infection--enough to prevent the fish from thriving, not enough to be lethal. There are sources of live foods online...The Bug Farm, your source for live food cultures and supplies. it one I've heard lots of good things about. __________________ ~Sheila tempus edax rerum Ideas do not have to be correct in order to be good; its only necessary that, if they do fail, they do so in an interesting way. ~Robert Rosen

10-05-2007, 04:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
jotn Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Frankli, MA Posts: 3	Hello, I am new here, but just saw this thread. I have a a small green spotted puffer, and couln't entice him to eat, until I bought some frozen bloodworms. I thawed a little in some of the tank water, and he went wild!! He will nibble on some other stuff now, but he loves those bloodworms.

10-05-2007, 06:50 AM	#11 (permalink)
sarcare Lost and Confused Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,899	welcome jotn! I do the same with my puffers--though they do best when I put them in a cone feeder, so they can examine them well. So MG, did your puff make it? __________________ Reality--go 'way!

11-07-2007, 07:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
mvigor Water keeper Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 451	Sadly, no, I wasn't able to save the puffers. The next time I try them (and I will because they are VERY COOL) I'll already have the live and frozen food supplies going. Worm cultures, a tank of baby pond snails, freezer full of blood worms, etc. Puffers aren't the easiest fish. __________________ ~=~MY AQUARIUMS~=~ \| Christian Sermon Audio Archive \| Genealogy

11-07-2007, 10:03 AM	#13 (permalink)
PufferMom Puffer Keeper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southeast Wisconsin Posts: 249	No, they aren't the easiest but are definitely worth the effort it takes. __________________ Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1

11-07-2007, 10:09 AM	#14 (permalink)
mvigor Water keeper Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 451	Can the tiny guys I was keeping (dwarf indian puffer) live in bigger groups? I'd love to get 10 of them for a planted 20 long. Are they as likely as any other fish to have parasites? __________________ ~=~MY AQUARIUMS~=~ \| Christian Sermon Audio Archive \| Genealogy

11-07-2007, 10:41 AM	#15 (permalink)
PufferMom Puffer Keeper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southeast Wisconsin Posts: 249	DPs, IME, have a higher rate of having intestinal parasites than any other fish, puffers included, I have ever had. I would recommend treating them as soon as you get them. Just remember that treating the tank doesn't do any good, you have to treat their food. Yes, they can often successfully be kept in larger groups. The more you have, the higher chance of problems, so that's something to keep in mind. There is someone I know that has a huge herd of them in a 92g tank I believe. Their behavior is different in larger groups, they seem to be more into loose schools than when they are in smaller groups. __________________ Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1

11-07-2007, 11:47 AM	#16 (permalink)
sarcare Lost and Confused Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,899	I have 7 in a 30g, which is a bit on the heavy stocking level, as they can get crowded and fiesty at feeding times. I've heard anything from 5g to 8g per fish, which I'm clearly not so good on __________________ Reality--go 'way!

11-07-2007, 02:18 PM	#17 (permalink)
RTR RTR Join Date: May 2006 Location: Exurban MD, USA Posts: 834	My largest crowd of dwarf puffers was 5 in a 29, and that was a very stable group. The tank was heavily planted, so no schooling behavior was seen. __________________ Where's the fish? - Neptune

11-07-2007, 02:41 PM	#18 (permalink)
sarcare Lost and Confused Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,899	I had four in there, and that was pretty stable, but then I got John's three, and they are still sorting that out. Hopefully they will settle down--though they have tons of hiding spots, and only can all be seen at feeding times. __________________ Reality--go 'way!

11-07-2007, 09:09 PM	#19 (permalink)
PufferMom Puffer Keeper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southeast Wisconsin Posts: 249	I don't recommend more than 1 per 5 gallons, especially when kept in multiples. __________________ Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1

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