Forums / TEAM Marine Depot / Disease, Health and Wellness - by Kelly Jedlicki / Valentini Puffer / Latest Posts

RE: Valentini Puffer

wreckdiver — Mon, 21 May 2007 21:36:47 GMT

Ok Got a couple of good picts of the new guy and one of the who aquarium. Check out the links in my signature for more tank and Underwater Photography while diving photos

My 90G Bowfront Reek Tank
My Underwater Photography

WreckDiver
aka: Cybrsufr

RE: Valentini Puffer

wreckdiver — Mon, 21 May 2007 18:03:53 GMT

He is only about 1 1/2" right now, should I still try to feed larger items at this point or give him a little while to grow and continue with the shell on river shrimp from Seachem, and the hakari mysis and sprialina brine? I will get some pictures tonight or tomorrow if he will hold still and smile

My 90G Bowfront Reek Tank
My Underwater Photography

WreckDiver
aka: Cybrsufr

RE: Valentini Puffer

Puffer Queen — Mon, 21 May 2007 15:06:47 GMT

Welcome to the MarineDepot.com forums!

Congrats on the new puffer - one can never have too many puffers

As far as diet - you may consider adding more meaty foods for the puffer - more shrimp, scallops, squid, and silversides. The more variety - the better chance of meeting all of the dietary needs for long term survival.

Do you add supplement/add any vitamins to the food?

Again, welcome.

Pics of the new addition are also welcomed as well

RE: Valentini Puffer

wreckdiver — Fri, 18 May 2007 21:22:09 GMT

Kelly,

I just purchased a valentini or saddle back puffer. My daughter loves puffers but I have a reef tank so after a lot of reading, forum reading, LFS (very good shop), and talking to local reefers, i have been brought to the conclusion that these are probably the most reef safe of all the puffer species, but I know that all of the inverts are at risk but he doesn't seem to bother anything but the snails and I really expected that because that is one of there preferred foods isnt it? Anyway I was writing to ask what should I feed this little guy? anything different than what I am feeding now (spirulina brine, mysis, cyclopeeze,spectrum thera a+ pellets,formula 2 flake, and once every week a raw shrimp shelled and cut up to feed the serpent stars, anemone, and frog spawn coral)

Tank Parms:

Amonnia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0
Phos = 0
Ca = 415
dKH = 10.3
SpG = 1.024
Age = 5 Months

Setup:

90 Gallon Bowfront w/ Bottom Drilled returns
20 Gallon Sump/Refugium
No Name Skimmer (identical to the CA 250 Gal Skimmer)
12 Lbs Fiji Refugium Mud
88 Lbs of Pucani Live Rock
1/4HP Chiller
2x250 HQI MH 14000K
2 96W CF Actnics
6 LED Moon Lights
Phosban Reactor
MAG9.5 return Pump
CA 2300 Skimmer Pump
CA 1800 Power head
Seio 1100 Power head

LiveStock

1 Lawnmower Blennie
1 Yellow Diamond Goby
1 Sturgenosis Tang
3 Green Chromis
2 Ocellaris Clowns
1 Valentini Toby
5 Astrea Snails
3 Large Turbo Snails
3 Peppermint Shrimp
1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
12 Blue Legged Hermits
2 Fancy Nassarius Snails

My 90G Bowfront Reek Tank
My Underwater Photography

WreckDiver
aka: Cybrsufr

RE: Valentini Puffer

keanu reef — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:12:12 GMT

Update:

Came home this afternoon to find him right side up but still hanging out on top of the powerhead (not in use). Did the burping and it seemed to help. He was swimming around a little so I did get a large critter box and but a set of plastic pipes from the display tank for him to hide in and anchor the box to the floor. Seems to be doing better. Thanks so much for the tips and help!

RE: Valentini Puffer

Puffer Queen — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:58:30 GMT

Welcome to MarineDepot.com and this forum!

keanu reef (2/1/2007)

Prolonged acclimation leads to unnecessary stress - as long as the temp and pH are within range - get the fish out of the bag and into QT.

Check out this thread:
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic49402-10-1.aspx?

and then put him in the QT tank (75 gallons) .. he was floating upside down and drifting around the tank. his fins were still going and he wasn't breathing heavy - kind of looked like he was sleeping almost with exception to his eyes following us around. We left him alone for about 30 minutes and then checked on him. He's now found a spot under the pump and upside down. He doesn't seem to be inflated so I don't think he inhaled any air. He seems calm and just hanging out but not sure if this is normal behavior. They were very careful at the store when they captured him and bagged him and we were very careful acclimating and transfer to tank. Is this normal behavior for acclimation? (i.e. tangs laying on their sides) or should we be very concerned? We are newbies in the puffer world and don't want to make any mistakes. Read several threads about the porcupine puffers and teeth issues - will this be something we need to be very conscious of for our little guy too?

This behavior sounds as if there is an air pocket - the puffer could have ingested air from eating air bubbles or eating food floating at the surface. This behavior causes stress on the puffer and the puffer will waste excess calories trying to right itself and maintain position.

Place the puffer in a plastic vented critter box and weigh it down with a rock or decoration....another option is to place in an upside down colander. Try feeding frozen peas to help pass things along in the digestive tract if the air is there.

Overgrown teeth are a problem with valentini puffers as well....feed shrimp with the shell on as well as try placing food in the crevices of rock and decorations.

RE: Valentini Puffer

argi — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 07:44:15 GMT

Hi Keanu reef,

I moved this into Kelly's (Puffer Queen) forum as I think she will be the best to help out with your little guy. I also have been very fasinated with the valentini puffers. Very cute little guys indeed.

Hopefully Kelly will be able to give you some insight into this guy.

HTH

Valentini Puffer

keanu reef — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:21:54 GMT

Fell in love with this guy at the store but he seemed shy and was hiding upside down under the plastic pipes in the tank and would not eat when they guy at the store fed him. Keep in mind, there was a Unicorn Tang among other tank mates that was devouring the food so I think I would have hid too .. it's now 10 days later and he is still there so we brought him home. We drip acclimated him in a bucket for 1.5 hours and then put him in the QT tank (75 gallons) .. he was floating upside down and drifting around the tank. his fins were still going and he wasn't breathing heavy - kind of looked like he was sleeping almost with exception to his eyes following us around. We left him alone for about 30 minutes and then checked on him. He's now found a spot under the pump and upside down. He doesn't seem to be inflated so I don't think he inhaled any air. He seems calm and just hanging out but not sure if this is normal behavior. They were very careful at the store when they captured him and bagged him and we were very careful acclimating and transfer to tank. Is this normal behavior for acclimation? (i.e. tangs laying on their sides) or should we be very concerned? We are newbies in the puffer world and don't want to make any mistakes. Read several threads about the porcupine puffers and teeth issues - will this be something we need to be very conscious of for our little guy too?