Dwarf Puffers not eating

[isaac newton]

I am having problems geting my puffers to eat.... I just got them 3 days ago and it seems that all the neons and guppies are eating the food instead of the puffs.. I am feeding it bits of calamari squid.. Do i have to give them a bit more time to get use to their enviroment?? The puffs just sit there circle it and stare at..

[Dangerdoll]

I don't think they are just taking their time in getting acclimated to their environment, I think they're looking at the calamari and wondering just what is is. I've tried using different frozen foods to see which my DP's would seem to go with due to trying to offer them a variety rather than the same thing always. The only thing they seem to like though is fozen blood worms (their fav's), brine shrimp (IME only if very hungry), and live black worms (another of their fav's). You may need to start from there before trying other things.

Oh, and don't forget the ever important snails.

[ChilDawg]

What were they eating in the store?

Also, isn't it possible that the fish in that tank that can actually move in a quick manner will always outcompete those with underdeveloped fins (tetraodonts)?

[OrionGirl]

I had better luck feeding live foods to juvenile puffers. Brine, blood worms were all taken with relish,and snails were their staple. It took about 3-4 months for mine to go after prepared foods.

[isaac newton]

Hmm ok, i guess ill go with breeding snails, frozen foods are a bit expensive :(.... Also the fact that there are 12 tetra neons and 6 guppies will eat a block of bloodworks in less then 60 sec :(

[Dangerdoll]

Your puffers haven't been eating for a few days so you might want to get at least a pack of frozen worms or live ones for that matter for the time being while you get your snail thing going....Just one pack might suffice depending on how many snails you get and how quickly you get the breeding going. I say this because the snail abundance doesn't happen overnight, it might happen quick, but just not that quick. You'll be surprised at how quickly they'll go for the worms.

[MonoSebaelover]

How much do frozen bloodworms go for in your area? At the lfs I work at we sell Hikari 3.5oz Bloodworm cubes for only $3.99. Frozen shouldn't be that expensive, in fact I've never seen it above $6. Also you might want to try deworming your Dwarfs since they are infamous for coming into the aquarium trade with intestinal worms that will emaciate them and kill them. Hope this helps and hope they start eating!

[aquatic-store]

Many Puffers, not all are brackish water fish and can only live in the regular water fo so long and will dwindle.

Http://www.Aquatic-store.com
Co2, Plants, Substrate, Filters, Heaters, UV and more

[ChilDawg]

Originally posted by aquatic-store
Many Puffers, not all are brackish water fish and can only live in the regular water fo so long and will dwindle.


However, dwarf puffers are FW, so that doesn't matter much in this instance.

[aquatic-store]

Let me reiterate,
Some FW puffers are Actually Brackish water fish.
Like people fish like to live in thier optimal enviroment and will thrive much better.

A one foot oscar can live in a 1.5 ft tank but those are not ideal conditions conducive the the survival of the fish

I see what you mean though Dwarf puffers are freshwater. I missed that point!!!

Marcus

Http://www.Aquatic-store.com
Co2, Plants, Substrate, Filters, Heaters, UV and more:):)

[ChilDawg]

I was wondering on that, but I see your point, and that is a good one. Crowding fish is a sad way to maltreat them, as is giving them terrible water parameters!