Dwarf Puffer won't eat anything but snails

[mak]

Hi all, I have a pair of dwarf puffers and the little male will not eat anything but snails no matter what I try. I've fed, frozen blood worms, flakes, pellets, earth worms, microworms, live baby brine shrimp, dried brine shrimp and 100's of snails. He will only eat the snails. They did attack the earth worm but he just turned around and resumed his never ending search for snails.
I'm just about at the end of my snail population. I started a fresh jar and have lots of eggs but I'm out of snails large and small enough for them to eat.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
The female Dwarf eats snails and microworms and thats it. She won't touch the other stuff either. But she's in good shape. The male is starting to look very skinny.
mak

[OrionGirl]

Keep offering other foods. Mine wouldn't touch anything but live brine shrimp--not the babies, but the adults. Now, he's well adjusted and will eat about anything. You might try blood worms--both frozen and live go over fairly well. Of course, you may need to treat for internal parasites--wild caught puffers are very prone to them. Medicated foods are the best bet, which is hard to get them to eat--I'd try feeding the snails the food and feeding the snails to the puffer. If you are on good terms with your LFS, they might let you snail collect from their tanks.

[somefinnfishy]

Need snails a little smaller than pea size?I send you all I can find 50 or more for ten bucks shipped.

[chris-in-sf]

Mine was very content with the large population of snails. after they were gone then he would eat live and frozen worms (and I think some baby Mollies). He doesn't touch anything else. If you had a lot of snails he's probably fine, and he will change his diet when he runs out.

chris

[mak]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, and thanks for the offer somefinnfishy, I think I'll try to wait him out though. I'm going to order some grindle worm culture and see if he will eat them. I have several hatches of snails but they are too small right now. I mashed a big snail for him last night and he did eat that so that helps. I just wish I could get him on a more varied diet! I wish he'd eat baby guppies, I had to net about 40 out of there last night.
mak

[RTR]

Grindal worms are not a good diet for puffers. Snails are far better.

Baby guppies are not a good diet for puffers either. Snails are far better.

[mak]

RTR, could you please explain to me why my puffers shouldn't eat grindles and fresh fish? I don't quite understand your answer. The guppies are my own home raised, about 200th generation fish. so I know they are clean, and what could be wrong with grindles? Just curious as he won't eat the guppies anyway.
mak

[TrashmanTodd]

Well that's cool, I have a couple of dwarf puffers in one tank, and I just had a snail outbreak in another. Now, I know what to do:D

Thanks for the Form

Todd

[ChilDawg]

Your puffers, for one, need some crunchies in their diet to take care of their teeth.

[mak]

:confused: Did you not read the beginning of this thread where I said that snails are all he will eat? Thanks for all the help. ;)

[ChilDawg]

Had my post been in sequence, it would have been a reply to your question of RTR. Unfortunately, it seems as though someone replied before I did, and that makes me look foolish. Try reading it as a reply to your question of RTR, and see what you think. Thanks for looking it over and seeing what I really meant, and that I DID read the beginning of the thread. Which I did. I'm not that stupid. Give me some credit here..and don't be so quick to criticize.

[ChilDawg]

Another thing--the thread title obviously refers to what I "must have overlooked". Did you really think that I was stupid enough to enter a post with such an obvious title and say something that non sequitur w/o any clue about the start of the thread? If you did...I'm sorry, but know that I am nowhere near that dumb.

[RTR]

Grindal worms have no crunch at all, might as well be feeding puree. Baby guppies have almost no crunch. Snails have lots of crunch. If you are feeding your snails well, they will provide a good staple diet (You are what your prey eats).

You said that you were running out of snails and then discussed moving to other, unsuitable, foods, how else was I to interpret your post?

You are quite welcome, good luck to you and your fish.

[TrashmanTodd]

Well I hope I didn't get anyone mad by what I posted. I just learned something new and was excited.
Todd:confused:

[ChilDawg]

Nobody is mad about what you had posted. I am a little miffed that mak would think so poorly of me, but your idea was a good one. Good luck with cleaning out that tank (but don't do it too quickly, unless you want to buy snails!!!)

[TrashmanTodd]

No Prob! Chi

Yea awhile ago I saw a couple of snails in my 75. Then a couple of days later I saw some empty shells and thought nothing of it. Then the other day I look at the bottom of my tank and they were everywhere. So the puffers have a little work to do first.

Todd

[JohnMemorialHS]

you coluld also give mealworms and crickets a try

[blitzen25bm]

i used to feed mine shrimp with shell on.

[JohnMemorialHS]

Yah ghost shrimps too

[mak]

Wow, sorry I took so long to reply and that I stepped on some toes. Humor doesnt come across the key board very well does it. I sure apologise for insulting you, I was really just teasing with the last post. You know, elbow in the ribs kind of thing? I'm gonna have to quit that.
I've been stressed over this little guy and his diet since I bought him and I had tons of snails but they have reduced the numbers to the point I'm crushing the large snails for them. The female is round and fat while he looks as skinny as a knife blade.

Again, sorry for the diss, didn't mean it, and thanks for all the suggestions!
mak

[ChilDawg]

Nope, it doesn't, but I do see how humour could have been intended in your statement. Thanks for giving us all a cooling off period prior to a reply. I accept your apology, now please accept mine for the quick-on-the-draw reaction.

[rdmpe]

Have you tried the ghost shrimp? My fig 8's love to eat them. They'll eat just about anything though. Once in a while I get a stray crab leg from the supermarket (for free), and cut about a half inch piece off and drop it in the tank. The puffers go after it right away. They are actually not that likely to eat snails. I wish they'd eat more snails, as I'm worried about their teeth.

You could also try a clam. I got a clam from the grocery store, cracked it's shell partially open and my puffers ate most of that clam too. I wanted to make them pick at the shell some, since I'm concerned about their teeth.

[mak]

Thanks for the idea's. I'll try that, I can't get clams in the shell here, I live in central Nebraska, but I should be able to get a frozen crab leg and shrimp.
Someone mentioned earlier gut loading the snails before feeding them to the puffers and I do that, my snails eat as well as the fish do. I wonder if there is'nt something else wrong with him. Several people here seem to think snails should be sufficient so maybe he's just not gaining weight because of something else. A friend on another board says that males tend to be thinner than females and built differently. He doesn't think there is anything wrong with my puffer. Does anyone else have one that seems skinny? :confused:
mak

[thom336]

Originally posted by ChilDawg
Unfortunately, it seems as though someone replied before I did, and that makes me look foolish.

Its amazing the number of jokes that have come into my head...lol. I dont think you need me to say them!

But in response to the puffer prob, this is like saying 'my neck hurts when I look up' - the simple solution is not to look up. You should be able to make summin of that.

[mak]

Well he died so apparently there was more wrong with him than being picky. Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I will have more dwarf puffers and try them out then.
mak

[mrk442]

Dwarf puffers seem to come loaded with alot of parasites for some reason just my experience i had a few that just never seem to grow while some just grew like weeds even though they all where eating the same.

Just my 0.02
Matt