gavin423

Help!? Ok, so I had three baby dwarf puffers in a heavily planted 10 gallon tank. Everything was fine for like 3 maybe 4 weeks. An alpha had been quickly established and there was NO fighting. Well, about a week ago, the alpha and the other puffer his size began fighting. There was no bloodshed but they were 'head butting' and nipping one another and then even began to harass the baby that was a little smaller than them. So I posted on dwarfpuffers.com and they recommended getting rid of the alpha as it sounded like they were reaching puberty (the two big ones). So I went ahead and rehomed my alpha but now i have a whole new problem on my hands.
The remaining big puffer that I have has stopped his aggression towards the baby but now he won't eat. Today is day four of him not eating. He's never done this - he was happily slurping worms within an hour of being in the tank when I first got him. I've tried his blood worms (Frozen) and I've tried it with the garlic enhancing stuff. I don't have access to black worms. I have a few big pond snails in a breeding colony (that I just started so no babies yet).

So my questions are:

Should I be worried about the little guy? He almost seems depressed that I took his enemy?

If I should be worried, should I try popping in some of the big snails and see if he'll go for them?

Any ideas on what is going on? He seriously seems depressed that I took his enemy, I don't get it?

Thanks in advance, for any help you can give me!
Tiffany

agabr123

did you de-worm them? puffers are wild caught and need to be dewormed when you get them. that could be the reason he's not eating. for the snails, you can crush them with your hand so that the shell gets mixed with all of the meat (PFP does this for her puffers). have you recently tested your water (and with what kit)?

gavin423

Yes, I dewormed them. And their bellies don't sink in after they eat and they don't have white poop - so I'm assuming it's not an IP. Yes I test my water about 2 times a week with a liquid API test kit. My numbers never waver - ammonia 0 nitrites 0 and nitrates 5. I will do the snails and see how that goes. Do you think maybe it's just stress? Like when they first come to a new tank how it can be a few days before they eat, maybe he's just doing that from the big change? Should I be worried or just give him more time?

Thanks so much.
Tyff

pinkfloydpuffer

If you've had them more than 4 weeks then they should definitely have settled in by now.
I know you said you don't have access to live blackworms, but they really are the best food to get picky puffers to eat. And definitely try the snails. If they will eat snails, but nothing else, then soaking the snails in vitamins (like VitaChem) should be sufficient to give them the nutrition they need.

gavin423

I would love to give them blackworms but I can't get them The only LFS I have access to will NOT order them because they can't get enough people to order them to make a profit or something Will chain pet stores order them (like Pet Supplies, Petco, Petsmart, etc)? I will definitely do the snails, he's looking a bit more interested today so we will see at dinner time.
Thanks again

pinkfloydpuffer

You could ask, but I'm not sure if they will.
I know of some people who get their blackworms shipped to them from here: http://aquaticfoods.com/Blackworms.html
DPs seem to be hard to get to eat for some reason. I hope the snails work

DPmom26

Awwww hope the little guy eats for you, I know how upsetting it is when they quit eating and you don't know why.

gavin423

Yay! Today instead of waiting for him to come up to eat, I shot him some extra worms to the bottom of the tank then went across the room and waited. Sure enough, a few minutes later he came floating out to eat and gobbled up a few worms. So it's all good now! Thanks for all of your help!

Tiffany

pinkfloydpuffer

Great!

agabr123

yay!