South American Puffer Not Eating

Help my South American puffer also know as a amazon puffer is not eating. She/he is skinny compared to my other puffer fish. She was doing fine when I first let her into our 15 gallon tank. How it’s started:

I was at a huge fish store and since my last aquarium broke I had to buy a new one (my previous fish where in a large bucket with a bubbler)
I got a 15 gallon tank. I have three mosquito fish, two zebra danios, one Cory catfish, and one albino pleco. We picked up our new aquarium and ended up walking out with 2 South American puffers. We acclimated all the fish and let them in. They all did fine so I was time to feed the puffers. I grabbed 2 yellow bowls and floated them in the tank. The bigger puffer at the frozen blood worms immediately (he eat until he was full)
Then I put some blood worms in the little puffers bowl and she only eat two and did not want to eat anything else. I tried giving her mysis shrimp she didnt touch them. I let her out of the bowl and she was so skinny compared to the other puffer. Soon she got tired and got stuck on the filter so I turned it off. I turned the lights off so she can calm down.

I’m think of getting a large breeding net so she won’t get stuck on the filter. What should I feed her???
And yes I am still awake monitoring her.

 

can you post a picture

 

Try snails or ghost shrimp

 

you just got the puffers, correct? a lot of fish won't eat the first day you get them. it can take days for a fish to feel comfortable eating. just because your other puffer ate more doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong with the one that ate less. it's probably just stressed in its new environment. plus they're wild-caught, so they have some adjusting to do to tank life. because they're wild-caught, there's also always a chance they may have internal parasites, which could be a more serious problem.

i'm assuming you didn't cycle the tank first, unless you transferred media that still has living bacteria from your old tank into your new. adding that many fish at once is probably going to cause a pretty big problem with ammonia and nitrites. puffers seem to be sensitive to water parameters, and are scaleless, so they might show symptoms of poor water quality and disease faster than other fish. plus they're super messy eaters.

I would wait to try to feed it anything else for a while, just let it rest. maybe buy a dewormer if it goes downhill and if you suspect parasites may be the culprit. puffers go crazy over pest snails, and it's also beneficial for their beaks, which need to be trimmed. you can also try soaking your frozen food in garlic to peak their appetite.

I suggest reading up on these guys if you haven't already. they will probably appreciate a bigger tank, especially if you plan on keeping them as community fish. i'd say a 15 gallon is pushing it with your current stock, especially considering most of your fish are schooling fish and should ideally be kept in groups of 6 or more.

 

I am not sure on the compatibility of your fish, do some research. Do not to toss a wet blanket on your day, But I will say for 15 g tank you are way over stocked. If you do not have an established filter as mentioned above you are going to lose many more of your fish.
Test your water monitor your ammonia and nitrates do daily water changes as required if your reading are high.

Good luck

 

I’ll try to get a picture and my concern with the snails is that he is so small and he’s beak is so small that I don’t think he can eat snails but I’ll try. And the only ghost shrimp on my town are in Petco and are a bit expensive. Any ideas on how to not get him stuck on the filter???

And we bought water that had good bacteria from an established tank and we used a filter booster to help with ammonia and nitrite levels.

I have another empty 5 gallon tank I could move my danios and get them maybe three more danios. And My mosquito fish are pretty small. I will send I pick of the tank now.

 

How do I upload a picture on mobile?

 

I figured out how to post picktures here is there tank

 

I was really hard to photograph them. This is probably the best picture u will get. The puffer that ate is on the top. The skinny puffer is on the bottom

 

For those who say my tank is over stocked:
The lable on the box said the aquarium was 15 gallons but I put 15 gallons of water and it was still not filled. And there are a lot of places to hide and all of my fish are thriving in their new tank. Exept for the skinny puffer. I'm going to buy a large breeding net to feed him in.

 

From my research it seems like they like a lot of water current!? Do. You have power heads in your aquarium? you

 

Help they are both not eating the snails (very tiny snails from Petco) the fatter one ate a few blood worms but the skinny one eat none. They are in the breeding net so the snails don’t get out. They have been in there for three mins. Should I just let them out???

 

View attachment 504669 Help they are both not eating the snails (very tiny snails from Petco) the fatter one ate a few blood worms but the skinny one eat none. They are in the breeding net so the snails don’t get out. They have been in there for three mins. Should I just let them out???

Do you have any shrimp for them to eat? I honestly don't know if they will make it, they are very sensitive fish, and putting them in an uncycled tank is probably not helping them. Do you have any other live food on hand?? Any clams or brine shrimp or microworms??

 

I think I’m going to have to order brine shrimp throughout amazon prime. I’m actually not worried about the bigger one because he ate a lot yesterday and maybe he’s not that hungry today. The little one is the one I’m worried about.
And they do have a live clam in the tank but they didn’t touch it.

 

I think I’m going to have to order brine shrimp throughout amazon prime. I’m actually not worried about the bigger one because he ate a lot yesterday and maybe he’s not that hungry today. The little one is the one I’m worried about.
And they do have a live clam in the tank but they didn’t touch it.

Ok good! Did you dewormed them?? Is it possible he has an internal parasite?? If I remember correctly they are wild caught so they could easily come with hitch hikers!! Do you have another tank you could put him in by himself??

 

I have about 5 gallon aquarium??? Should I treat both of them??? Which is the best dewormer???

 

Okay, so I’m going to be completely honest with you based on store experience and keeping them a while ago.

-They need more than 15 gallons, they’re small, but extremely active fish who thrive in groups of 6 or more.

-Its best to do species only, as they require pristine water conditions and can become aggressive to other fish.

-They’re very picky eaters. Most people I know (and myself when keeping them) feed live pest snails, live blackworms, live crickets, and other crunchy foods that they’ll eat. Crunchy foods are essential unless you want to net them and file down their continuously-growing teeth.

-Strong current is a must.

 

My advice, as always, is do a 20% water change and then try a different food.

 

My advice, (long term rehome them) right now, try garlic juice. I have heard that it is good.
Edit: If you really love the idea of puffers, then I would suggest pea puffers. I have seen some success in keeping them in community tanks, but I would have another cycled tank ready just Incase. (They need 5 gallons per puff)

 

How's the puffer doing by now??

 

The big one is thriving and eating well
The small one is doing worse
I gave them snails I think the big one ate some but the little one didn’t eat any snails or blood worms (at least I don’t think so) He is skinnier and he is constantly resting on the ground. He’s on the ground longer than when he swims around. The brine shrimp are coming Wednesday but they take 24 hr to hatch. I can’t rehome him. Not Even temporarily. Sadly I don’t think he will make it till then. And I did do my research they do good solo or in groups of six. At the store they were together for a while so they said it was ok.

 

Just a note, any amazon puffer is almost 100% wild caught and will have parasites. If you watch cory he is a big freshwater puffer fan and all of his videos are extremely helpful.

 

Sadly the little puffer passed away
On the other hand the other puffer is doing well, he’s eating his blood worms and snails. I think he will live a nice life
Rest In Peace little puffer