gavin423

Okay, I have a GSP and a DP (in different tanks, obviously, lol). Their staple diet tends to be bloodworms because it's most easily available where I live. Plus, every time I branch out and try something new (like shrimp, for example) it goes uneaten. So bloodworms is the daily food with a snail here and there to trim their beaks.

Well, I went to the local pet store yesterday to get another packet of bloodworms. When I got to the register, the checkout lady (who knows that I have puffers) was like "no no no, these aren't that good for them. Beef heart is WAY better. It's what I feed my green spotted and I have for years." I tried to be polite about questioning her because I've done my share of research and that was the first I've heard someone say that bloodworms were no good and to use beef heart. But she kept insisting and I finally just gave in and decided to try it. BUt as soon as I got home, I regretted my decision and have been going back and forth on whether or not to go back and try to exchange.

So what is your experience? Is the beef heart in fact okay for the puffers? I think either way, I will still keep the bloodworms as the main part but if the beef heart is okay, I wouldn't mind throwing it in for variety now and then.

Thanks so much in advance,
Tiffany

pinkfloydpuffer

There's some disagreement over beef heart as a fish food... some people say that fish can't use that kind of animal proteins as well as the water-based creatures they prey on naturally. I am not sure how true that is or not. But, I wouldn't use it for them. Just personal preference.
And if you're feeding just bloodworms, I suggest soaking them in Vitachem so that they're getting the vitamins they need, since bloodworms isn't really the best staple food for a GSP

gavin423

Okay, thanks Pink!

Will definitely start soaking the bloodworms. Personally, if you don't mind me asking, what do you feed your puffers? I tried some shrimp from the grocery store and my GSP nipped at it but then ignored it. I can't get my hands on black worms (short of ordering online which I don't have the spare cash for at the moment).

pinkfloydpuffer

The GSPs get snails about 2x a week, bloodworms 1x a week, then I'll switch around the amount of frozen mussel, live ghost shrimp, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, plankton.... when those yummies start getting low I'll be getting clams and shrimps.
The DPs are much more picky... I know they love their bloodworms, and it's a more natural part of their diet than of the GSPs. They hunt their snails themselves so I don't have to feed them very often. I give them brine and mysis shrimp as well.

gavin423

Thanks. If you don't mind, I actually have another question, sorry when you feed the ghost shrimp, do you have to worry about them being healthy? cause honestly, I very rarely see healthy looking ones in the petstores. I want to get some for Pixie to eat but I'm afraid of making her sick. In about a week, I'll be setting up a 5 gallon tank to breed snails in, should I perhaps look into breeding ghost shrimp as well? is that even possible?

Sorry for the question overload, lol. Thanks for the help, as always!

pinkfloydpuffer

I don't ever mind

Crustaceans don't have diseases that pass on to fish that I am aware of. I'd just make sure none of the nasty water is in with them and keep them in your own tank for at least a week just to be sure.
Breeding ghost shrimp is more work than it's worth, IMO. You have to seperate the young from the adults and raise them in brackish water....

gavin423

Ok, so rather than breed, should I perhaps just pick up a couple from the store every week and let them stay in the tank with the snails (rather than driving over a half hour for a 30 cent shrimp? Also, if that is an okay plan, would the shrimp be okay with a betta? I was planning to put one in the five gallon with the snails.

Thanks again

pinkfloydpuffer

Well, there's a chance that the betta will kill both the shrimp and the snails, or they could be fine. It depends. You'd be ok putting like 20 ghost shrimps in the 5g no problem though.

gavin423

Ok, thanks!