I picked up a 4" map puffer about 10 days ago and he has yet to eat or even act interested in food when I feed the tank. I have even been able to get a piece of shrimp in front of him when he was behind a rock so that he would have no competition in eating and he has not shown any interest. I know puffers can go a while without eating but do you have any ideas on how to spark his appetite?
puffer feeding question
- Thread starter wmu2007
- Start date
tank o tang
Thread Lurker
Prawn soaked in garlic or try throwing in a couple hermits and snails, clam
JustinReef
New member
No QT? One of the many reasons for QT is that it is easier to feed them. Try the garlic and try it with many types of food. Did you see him eat in the store?
JustinReef
New member
Its not as common as say Butterflies but it can sometimes be hard to get some puffers to eat. I usually will ask my LFS to feed any fish I am interested in before I buy it just to make sure.
My porc took a while to start eating once I brought him home even though he had eaten in the LFS. I basically had to put the prawn on a feeding stick and rub it on his mouth. At first he would try to swim away but if I kept doing it, he would bite it out of frustration and quickly realized it tasted good! I had to do this for just a day or two and then everytime he saw the stick, he would go nuts. Maybe worth a try.
My porc took a while to start eating once I brought him home even though he had eaten in the LFS. I basically had to put the prawn on a feeding stick and rub it on his mouth. At first he would try to swim away but if I kept doing it, he would bite it out of frustration and quickly realized it tasted good! I had to do this for just a day or two and then everytime he saw the stick, he would go nuts. Maybe worth a try.
limitedslip
New member
you could try other foods, such as silversides, cubes, clams, squid, or such. My porc ate while I was acclimating it
, but my stars and stripes refused to eat shrimp for the first few weeks (my porcs favorite), but when I starting offering a more varied selection, the stars and stripes quickly warmed up.
, but my stars and stripes refused to eat shrimp for the first few weeks (my porcs favorite), but when I starting offering a more varied selection, the stars and stripes quickly warmed up.I think I found the problem. My 5" Guinea Fowl chases the Map from time to time into hiding, even more so around feeding time. I have since moved the Map puffer to my 29 gallon with 2 clown fish, one damsel, and one six line wrasse, all 1-2". I am going to get rid of one of the two puffers: either the map or guinea fowl. Its a tough decision.
tank o tang
Thread Lurker
reaquascape it may help with aggression
reefergeorge
New member
My five inch porc took down two 1.5 inch clowns. So be careful.
crazedpuffer
New member
My old 5 inch porc took down 10 half inch damsels, and got beat up by 2 1 inch damsels.
As far as the 29 gallon tank the map is in now, I really don't care much about the clowns or damsel. I was gonna put a small queen trigger in there anyways. But the puffer seems more content in the 29 gallon as he is actively swimming around. The Guinea Fowl I have is, I believe, a black guinea fowl.
Puffer Queen
New member
If you can't move the mappa to a QT - then try separating/segregating the tank with a plastic lighting grate (home depot, Lowe's etc).
You can also try live gut loaded ghost shrimp.
You can also try live gut loaded ghost shrimp.
my Guinea Fowl is very aggressive toward any puffer before I had him I guess he mauled a dogface at the lfs
