Dwarf Puffer Diet Troubles

HI Fishlore!

So I recently purchased a Dwarf Puffer for my 29 gallon. There's plenty of places for him to hide so he's content so far. However, I've been having some trouble feeding him (i've read they're generally picky). I tried giving him some frozen Brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and blood worms. He looked like he was interested in the blood worms, but gave up after a while. At the pet store that I work at, we've got an overabundance of parasite snails which I've seen the dwarf puffers at the store eat right up. I got a bunch for my tank, but I have two main concerns: 1) the puffer's on the smaller side and very skinny (since he hasn't been eating). Although these snails are small, will they be too big for him? It seems as though he's having trouble sucking them out of their shells. 2), will he be able to find them in my 29 gallon? I got about 6 of them but they've vastly spaced out since I put them in. Any advice would be great, I'm concerned about how skinny he is and don't really know what to do. Thanks.

 

There are a number of reasons your puffer could be skinny. Where does the store get them? Are they wild caught? Many Pea Puffers are and this usually means parasites (which is why QT is required for them - a long one). If he's still in a place where he's eating, he will likely eat the snails. Mine still ate snails just before she died of camallanus worms. Also I should say that you won't have 6 snails for long. Bladder snails (one of two suitable snails for puffers, the other being ramshorns) breed to the amount of waste produced by the tank, as that is their main food source. Soon you'll have dozens.

Should be noted that puffers are generally not suitable for a community tank. They are aggressive and don't tend to get along with other fish. Special care should be taken with fish that have long fins, as they make excellent nipping subjects lol.

Most puffers will only eat live foods. They can sometimes be trained onto frozen foods, but this isn't always the case. I plan to (If I save my male from the camallanus worms) offer mine scuds, live tubifex, and bladder snails. With any luck I'll eventually train my male onto frozen bloodworms, but I have no delusions about it working lol.

 

Seachem garlic guard!!!!

 

Junebug, I read in a few places that the dwarfs were okay in a community tank as they stay small. So far it looks like this is the case, he just doesn't really interact with my other fish. The reason I'm skeptical about it being parasites is that the other two puffers that he came in with are a healthy weight and are eating the snails with no problem. Mine attempted eating some last night, but looked like he was having some trouble getting to them. Would it be a problem if I removed him from the tank and tried to feed him in a smaller quarantine, at least until he was at a normal weight again?

 

That would work, but keep in mind it's possible you won't be able to return him to the community tank.

 

The only thing I'll add is that puffers are soooo individualistic, like Oscars. You can get anything from a furious killing machine to a fat bum. I would listen to June about puffers and IPs. It is insanely common in many puffer species. Most carry them, and some may not show signs but may have some that will come out with enough stress.

For food, I would suggest trying to feed it with tongs. This way you can move whatever it is you're holding (frozen/live worms, shrimp, etc) which might entice the puffer more. Plus he will eventually know the tongs mean dinner time! Mine was a little scared at first but now when I get them from across the room I can see him do his little excited pre-dinner dance.

 

Definitely snails. These guys are picky buggers... had one die from not eating wouldn't eat anything but snails and soon wouldn't eat that. Got two new ones, and they're eating frozen bloodworms and snails, which makes me happy.