Porcupine Puffer Only Eats Live Food

[Remo1006]

I recently bought a Porcupine Puffer that will not eat anything except live fish. Is there any way I can get him off the live food and switched over to frozen food? Thanks

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Welcome to RF, we would love to see some pictures. Can you tell us more about your tank. Carnivores can be weaned off live fish and should be. If using goldfish, switch to mollies, better nutrition. Try frozen silversides then frozen krill krill wiggled on a fishing line. Later will not need the line and later can be trained to eat a more varied diet.

 

[Remo1006]

Thanks for the info. I will post some pictures soon. I have 2 tanks. A 75 gallon tank and a 180 gallon tank.

 

[steven11]

Welcome Remo! I have never trained a puffer but have trained many lionfish. Definately switch to mollys if you can. To start out, always feeding in the same corner or spot. The fish will learn that what ever you are putting in the water there is food. Eventually, they will take frozen foods from there.

 

[brady816]

This is what i did with my 2 lionfish and my eel and the leaf fish. I was feeding them with ghost shrimp and everytime i would feed them that i would drop in frozen mysis shrimp and they would eat that thinking it was the ghost shrimp...Good luck would like to see some pics

 

[Roly]

Hey welcome! My puffer didnt want to eat either. What I did was I waited until night time when it was darker. I shut off the tank lights but kept the room lights on. They seem to "hunt" at night. Then I dropped a piece of krill in front of him. For a few days he ignored it. But after about a week or so (maybe 5 days) he ate one. The next day he did too. Now he eats day or night and right from my hand! Good luck!

 

[Damsel13]

ewww gross and I am a fisherman ok fisherwoman! I can do a mean filet taught to me by my Grandfather.

 

[Reefergeorge]

What other types of food have you tried?
My porc goes nuts for mussels, clams, table shrimp, but won't tuch them if they fall past him so I use a feeding stick or hand feed him waveing it around in front of him.

 

[Damsel13]

My Tang eats right off the bottom however my other fish will only eat when food is dangled or on live rocks. I have recently acquired a yellow watchman goby who I think only eats live copapods and or mysid shrimp. Someone suggested to me from Reef Frontiers attaching food to a piece of acrylic and letting in wave around in the current. Sounds like a great idea to me. Haven't tried it yet but I will.

 

[Remo1006]

Thank you all for the suggestions. He is eating the silversides now.

 

[LakeEd]

Good work Remo! Now that he is eating for you, don't forget to switch things up now and again... giving him Krill and/or other shrimp (shell, body and all), scallops, squid, muscles, clams. Even our fish enjoy a variety in their diet, and it also helps give them a more well rounded diet.

Years ago, when I had a Fish-Only tank and a Puffer... I enjoyed hand feeding. Your fish will eventually become so use to your interaction at feeding time, it will anticipate seeing you... with that cute "smile" they have!

Keep us posted, and WELCOME TO REEF FRONTIERS!!!!

 

[Reefergeorge]

Thank you all for the suggestions. He is eating the silversides now.

Congratulations Like said before, now start swithcing it up. I swear my porc eats better than me.