Puffer Not Eating...

[timmystood]

Ok, I brought 2 Puffer's the other day for my newly created Brackish tank. Their both Figure 8's.

The day I brought them I gave them frozen bloodworm and they went mad. I didn't feed them yesterday but I did do a water change. Today, I have just given them some frozen bloodworm and one of them acted like before, scoffing it down till he was a fat ball! But the other one just ignored it. He looked at it and didn't bother trying to eat it, and he looks thin. He's swimming around normally but i'm paranoid about him not eating today because I don't wanna lose them.

Any ideas?



Water Stats are perfect BTW

Ammonia - 0
NitrIte - 0
pH - 7.5

 

[keane]

Ok, I brought 2 Puffer's the other day for my newly created Brackish tank. Their both Figure 8's.

The day I brought them I gave them frozen bloodworm and they went mad. I didn't feed them yesterday but I did do a water change. Today, I have just given them some frozen bloodworm and one of them acted like before, scoffing it down till he was a fat ball! But the other one just ignored it. He looked at it and didn't bother trying to eat it, and he looks thin. He's swimming around normally but i'm paranoid about him not eating today because I don't wanna lose them.

Any ideas?



Water Stats are perfect BTW

Ammonia - 0
NitrIte - 0
pH - 7.5

Hi,

I will be honest and say that i (and I think most others who read the post you made about your newly purchased Topaz puffers) was expecting this. I did refer you to the "setting up a brackish tank" pinned topic in the Brackish section. Did you read it?

You haven't got a "newly created brackish tank" at all. From what I can gather, what you have got is a tropical freshwater tank, into which you bunged some marine salt, gave it a stir and labelled it brackish!!

Water stats are not perfect.....do you have any idea what sg (specific gravity) your water is at having now added salt? Do you know what the optimum sg is for your (apparent) Topaz puffers??

I don't mean to sound harsh because I really don't have alot of knowledge of brackish tanks (save for what I have absorbed from these forums) but I do know that you appear not to have properly researched your fish (despite your assertions that you have) or brackish tanks in general and I have a distinct feeling you and your fish are in for a very bumpy ride.

Perhaps a swift PM to nmonks or CFC (no offence to those that are also brackish minded) could save your fish.

steve

 

[nmonks]

My initial reaction is don't worry about it, and provided the fish aren't obviously starving, then going without food for a day or three will do them no harm at all. Do bear in mind that these fish need things other than bloodworms over the long term. Snails are the optimal food, but they will also take unshelled shrimps, mussels, chunks of frozen prawn, and so on.

Anyway, I just took a look at your profile, and if it's accurate, I've got to say that keeping these puffers with Corydoras and a plec isn't going to work out. Topaz puffers (Tetraodon fluviatilis) need at least 1.010 long term, and many would argue fully marine conditions eventually. I have never kept this species, so don't have a strong opinion either way, but I would suggest you read up on the species before progressing further. It isn't an easy fish, being somewhat aggressive and not always viable in a community tank setting. There's a nice profile here.

It goes without saying that brackish water is harmful to all Corydoras and most suckermouth catfish, and even the few brackish water Hypostomus only tolerate low salinity conditions, well below what your puffer will need.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[RadaR]

Puffer's need to wear down their teeth on something and if there isn't anything to gnaw on (snail shells) then their teeth get to big and they don't/can't eat. Provide your puffers with some snails.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

I'm with Neale on this one, (I usually am on everything) but you need not worry too much yet. I usually feed my GSP once every three or four days. They do eat quite a lot of food at once so don't be too worried about it untill they haven't eaten for a few feedings in a row.

Also, have you checked your salinity? This is a potentially large threat to your fish if you have passed their acceptible salt levels!

Good Luck

SLC