Golden Puffer feeding

[gsiegel]

I know - not a reef fish but more activity here.

I have a golden puffer that eats like a pig which is good. Silversides, clams, squid. Do any of you get fish from a place like whole foods ar a fish market in addition? What else do you feed or recommend feeding a puffer (he is a good size at about 10 inches and does not go for the mysis or small stuff)

 

[Cu455]

I get shrimp, clams, squid and other things at the market. Add some vitamins. I feed my puffer NLS 10mm size pellets to keep the beak trimmed.

 

[sandwi54]

It's a misconception to feed puffers fish, which is not part of their natural diet (however they may eat it). Puffers in the wild feed on invertebrates - crabs, shrimps, clams, scallops, mussels, etc. Arothron Meleagris (guineafowl and golden puffers) are also corallivores, meaning they eat corals as well.

I have two golden puffers (and three dogface puffers) and feed them whole shelled raw shrimps, clams, and scallops, soaked in vitamin. Some of my puffers also eat other food along with my other large fish.

You have to make sure that your feed your puffer hard shells to grind down his teeth.

 

[gsiegel]

Thanks
Curious as to how much and how often you feed your puffers. Do you get the food at a grocery store or from a specialty fish market?

 

[sandwi54]

I usually feed them every other day, but I'm trying to step up the feeding frequency to every day. I usually just go to an Asian grocery store and buy the raw seafood. They usually have live clams and shrimps that sit on ice. I buy them and freeze them overnight to kill bacteria and parasites before feeding.

Regarding how much to feed, a general rule of thumb is to feed enough so that the puffer's tummy "sags" slightly. When a puffer has enough food, it will generally stop begging for food, so you'd know that you've fed enough. If the tummy sags too much, the puffer has eaten too much and the next time just feed a little less.