|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/12/2008 10:14:36 AM
Posts: 35,
Visits: 143
|
|
| Out of 8 or so in the holding tank, I chose one of the 2 that were actively swimming at the front of the tank. I was hoping this would be a ood sign of a stronger fish that would readily take to tank life. It went into QT last Tuesday and has not eaten anything yet. It hides during the entire daylight cycle, however even as of right now is active at night cruising the tank. I have tried cocktail shrimp, plankton, mysis, scallops, and even some clam on the half shell hoping to draw some interest but there has been none...it actively swims away from my feeding prong. I went to the LFS today to pick up some live snails but none were small enough to feasibly be eaten. I picked up some tiny hermits but am not sure whether to expect these will get eaten. I'm almost out of ideas other than continuing to wait for the "a hungry fish is a more aggressive fish) but would like to get those first bites in. Prior experience with these puffers has been that they quickly feed but this strike is new. Overall, the fish still looks healthy. Any ideas or irresistable recipes?
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 6:40:43 AM
Posts: 4,315,
Visits: 7,044
|
|
Welcome to MarineDepot.com. I have moved this thread to my forum as I have a "little" expertise on puffers First off - Congrats on your new porcupine puffer and to the good husbandry practice of quarantining! What are your water parameters in the QT - what size? The natural feeding instinct of puffers is to feed/forage at night. Try offering shrimp with shell on, squid - especially the tentacles, frozen peas (I know odd - but some readily take these!), gut loaded freshwater ghost shrimp and silversides. You can also try adding vitamin B12 (crushed and dissolved in h20) to the tank. Once the puffer is eating, make sure to deworm it - puffers are notarious for being worm infested. Again, welcome and please keep us updated. Pics are always welcome
Kelly
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/12/2008 10:14:36 AM
Posts: 35,
Visits: 143
|
|
| I was hoping you would chime in quickly Kelly! QT is a 20g long with a cycled filter (have used for previous 4 fish added to display, have not yet had to medicate). Parameters are 0ppm ammonia and nitrite, nitrate <10ppm, PH 8.2-8.3, sg-1.024, temp - 77. I do 5g water changes every other day. His behavior does seem very typical right now (hiding/conservative during the day, active at night), I am surprised because my previous one was a familiar glutton the same day of purchase. I was a bit concerned to leave an entire shrimp in overnight for fear that it may lead to an ammonia spike by morning? I have frozen silversides, forgot about trying that. I will also try the frozen peas. I am assuming you recommend deworming with the praziquantel you recommend on other threads, I will see how quickly I can find it locally or online.
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 6:40:43 AM
Posts: 4,315,
Visits: 7,044
|
|
His behavior does seem very typical right now (hiding/conservative during the day, active at night), I am surprised because my previous one was a familiar glutton the same day of purchase. Maybe the others were "held" longer at the wholesalers before shipping to the LFS ?? I was a bit concerned to leave an entire shrimp in overnight for fear that it may lead to an ammonia spike by morning? I have frozen silversides, forgot about trying that. I will also try the frozen peas. I usually cut the shrimp into smaller pieces and only feed a couple pieces - I usually only leave it in the tank for no more than a couple hours. I am assuming you recommend deworming with the praziquantel you recommend on other threads, I will see how quickly I can find it locally or online. Yes -praziquantel is the best choice for deworming a puffer.
Kelly
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/12/2008 10:14:36 AM
Posts: 35,
Visits: 143
|
|
| Well, it is now Thursday night and still no luck. The puffer is still maintaining normal behavior, it rests during the daylight period and is very active at night. Is there a point where I should become really concerned that it hasn't eaten? I have placed several strombus snails (1/4") from a friend in the tank hoping that it may be natural and he might eat them but other than that I am just going to repeat nightly different small pieces of food.
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 6:40:43 AM
Posts: 4,315,
Visits: 7,044
|
|
Have you tried the vitamin b12? Ghost shrimp?
Kelly
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/12/2008 10:14:36 AM
Posts: 35,
Visits: 143
|
|
| Could not get ghost shrimp, LFS that carries them is out and shipments come in on Mondays. I forgot about the B12....what exactly is that for?
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/12/2008 10:14:36 AM
Posts: 35,
Visits: 143
|
|
| Nevermind....appetite stimulant...found a few extra minutes to use that "search" function rather than being spoon fed. I will report back tomorrow, going to try some foods now.
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 6:40:43 AM
Posts: 4,315,
Visits: 7,044
|
|
| Great - please keep us updated. Best of luck!!
Kelly
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/12/2008 10:14:36 AM
Posts: 35,
Visits: 143
|
|
| Zero luck, tonight I will be adding the B12 when I get home from work.
|
|
|
|