Feeding Bloodworms.. and my new additions!

[juliethegr8t]

Well I ended up going back to my lfs today to pick up whatever I decided. I actually hadn't decided until I took another good look at them. Anyways, the Red Tailed Sharks didn't really look too healthy in general, and none of them had a red tail, so I decided aganist that, also because I don't want to have to part with him when he gets too big! I was very interested in the African Dwarf frogs but of course one of them had fungus . At least that's what I think it was, looked like a very fine cottony stuff in small patches that was floating but attached to it. So I went no way, of course. Then I took another look at the Dwarf Puffers, and goodness are they CUTE! I picked up the only 2 they had. I also found a nice floating plastic plant (thanks to everyone for the help with that) that I've secured with suction cups and it looks really nice. The puffers are hiding out and not getting picked on, nor picking on anyone, so, so far so good!!

Now for the question part of my post.. sorry it took so long to get there hehe. Anyways, I plan on feeding my puffers freeze dried (if they'll take it) and frozen bloodworms. However, I'm not really sure how to do this! I got a turkey baster to get it to them so the other fish can't steal, but it seems like when I pump it out it's mostly air. Also, when I turn the baster downwards to put it in, it starts dumpin out its contents right away, so the puffers hardly get anything by the time its down there. Can anyone tell me their experiences with feeding foods using a baster (or just how you feed particular fish a food like this)? It would be of great help, thanks so much.

 

[PrObLeM_ChIlD]

the dwarf frogs may have been shedding mine did just yesterday

 

[CraZ4fiSHieS]

hello. well i had dwarf puffers in the past and i couldnt get them to eat anything until i isolated them to their own tank, and THEN all i could get them to eat was wax worm guts (I cut off the heads and squeezed it out with tweezers!)
I have also used a baster to feed (Still do for my rubber eel). blood worms do not like to stay in those things! I feel your frustration!!! Maybe you could try to hand feed them using tweezers to hold onto a few blood worms at a time? That worked with my first puffers i had. I would work on getting them used to your hands so they arent afraid to eat from it. you may beable to keep them in your community tank, but Im not sure. Ive heard they do best in a species tank. Someone whos really good to talk to about this is Pufferpack. Or repost this message in the Oddballs forum. Hope I have been some help and good luck with your puffers!!!! (I love those guys!!!! )

 

[Pufferpack]

Hi juliethegr8t

Congrats on the new puffers, hope you enjoy caring for them as much as I do.
Firstly If you can get them to eat dried bloodworms you are doing great, most won't touch them. In an emergency you may be able to get them to eat dried food by soaking it first so that it doesn't float on the surface. Frozen bloodworms work much better (thawed first). What I would try is feed the regular food to the other fish on one side of the tank, after they all rush over to eat the flake, or whatever, put the bloodworm into the other side of the tank for the puffers.

A word of caution: Watch the puffers with your gouramis, they will chew their fins, and if the Danios start to get too nippy with the puffers they will probably be killed ...Dwarf puffers will retaliate and do hold grudges (my first little pack of 6 killed a 2 1/2 inch mbuna cichlid when they were all about 1/2 inch long).

 

[juliethegr8t]

Thanks to you guys for your help. Pufferpack - I did do research on these guys before I got them, so I'm aware I may have trouble, but I've decided if I do I'll make sure to remove somebody. It's hard to do, but I realized if I wanted to try them, I'd have to remind myself it may not work. My Zebra Danios really don't seem interested in the puffers, and haven't nipped them all. They're more interested in bugging each other . So hopefully that will stay the same, and everything will go alright. Thanks again for your help, I'm off to try feeding them again!

 

[Pufferpack]

My Zebra Danios really don't seem interested in the puffers, and haven't nipped them all.

Glad to hear it juliethegr8t, hope it works out well (I just dont trust Danios much) ...you'll have to keep us updated