can anyone help witha issue with my puffer?

[Mike N]

Puffers are designed (with their teeth) to eat shelled animals like crabs, clams, etc. Mine can crush a shell up at will.

Thanks for sharing. I know they need shelled foods to wear down their teeth, but I was unaware of the liver issues. Makes me scared to keep feeding my valentini silversides.

 

[jasonrusso]

Thanks for sharing. I know they need shelled foods to wear down their teeth, but I was unaware of the liver issues. Makes me scared to keep feeding my valentini silversides.

If he is still healthy, just transition to a more appropriate food. Sometimes my porky would get really excited when feeding my eel or angler and eat the fish, but it was never his main food.

 

[Mike N]

If he is still healthy, just transition to a more appropriate food. Sometimes my porky would get really excited when feeding my eel or angler and eat the fish, but it was never his main food.

I go for variety. Silversides is just a small part of what she eats:
1) PE mysis
2) Enriched Brine
3) Large krill
4) Clams on half shell
5) Mussels
6) Silversides

 

[jasonrusso]

I go for variety. Silversides is just a small part of what she eats:
1) PE mysis
2) Enriched Brine
3) Large krill
4) Clams on half shell
5) Mussels
6) Silversides

I'm by no means an expert, but can I suggest a change.

When your puffer gets bigger, he will not eat the mysis or brine. It's too small. Sometimes mine would eat jumbo mysis.

I feed grocery store shrimp that I chop up and add Vitachem. I also feed mussels, oysters, and squid.

 

[jasonrusso]

Update?

 

[Garoux]

UPDATE the lump on his back is going down a bit or has completely went away can't tell that much. But does eat on his own and now eats mysis and brine. When before didn't even look at it ! Doesn't mean he's 100% but has made major improvements and doesn't even let me force feed anymore inflates to much and closes his beak

 

[jasonrusso]

UPDATE the lump on his back is going down a bit or has completely went away can't tell that much. But does eat on his own and now eats mysis and brine. When before didn't even look at it ! Doesn't mean he's 100% but has made major improvements and doesn't even let me force feed anymore inflates to much and closes his beak

He's still alive and making progress, that's great

 

[Garoux]

He isn't going anywhere I guess lol. The longest saltwater fish I've had. He's going to be with me until he out grows me

 

[jasonrusso]

He isn't going anywhere I guess lol. The longest saltwater fish I've had. He's going to be with me until he out grows me

Go to the grocery store or fish market and see if they have squid. I buy the tentacles and cut them up. They love those and it's good for them. Brine isn't really good unless you are adding vitamins, but it's small so if he was having jaw issues he can get it down.

Keep up the good work! You now have a bond with that fish.