I can't get him to eat. Help.
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revhtree
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How long has he been without eating?
Whatever he's eating try adding a little garlic to it. It is said to have appetite increasing properties.
RJAllen
New Member
Every sharp nose puffer I have known....and I used to collect a few in the Keys back in the day were pigs. Of fresh caught fish...they were almost always the first to feed. One of the most intelligent btw.
Two thoughts. How old is ur tank? Do you have well develop ed live rock? Small snails? These guys are VERY good at finding juicy morsels in your reef. He may be just very well self fed. You might experiment with finely chopped fresh or frozen shrimp.. clams... or scallops. The are easily hand fed. You can use an appetite stimulate or medcine (see below).
They are fairly easy to catch so, if above, doesn't help, put him in a isolation tank. Dose with prazipro. This very effective on internal parasites. Be sure to follow a the complete course of treatment. You can medicate his food and the water. Be warned prazi can reduce, temporarily, his appetite. So the course of treatment is usually split into at least 2 blocks of 5-7 days.
Good luck the little guy is likely to become one of your favorite pets.
Two thoughts. How old is ur tank? Do you have well develop ed live rock? Small snails? These guys are VERY good at finding juicy morsels in your reef. He may be just very well self fed. You might experiment with finely chopped fresh or frozen shrimp.. clams... or scallops. The are easily hand fed. You can use an appetite stimulate or medcine (see below).
They are fairly easy to catch so, if above, doesn't help, put him in a isolation tank. Dose with prazipro. This very effective on internal parasites. Be sure to follow a the complete course of treatment. You can medicate his food and the water. Be warned prazi can reduce, temporarily, his appetite. So the course of treatment is usually split into at least 2 blocks of 5-7 days.
Good luck the little guy is likely to become one of your favorite pets.
Your better off soaking his food in the garlic, drain and then feed. I'm happy he's eating for you!
RJAllen
New Member
I use garlic on occasion but recent studies have shown garlic as a regular course has proven to be harmful. I don't have the sources availbe but you can easily do a search...most come from aquaculture food industry
Then someone better point this out to Ocean Nutrition & their Formula One Flakes as they make them with added garlic.
RonnieBlack
Active Member
He/she eating some, so that is progress..Sounds like you are on the right track..
RJAllen
New Member
If you bother to spend 5 min checking it out you will also find numerous posts on the seversl aquarium sites. As I said, I use garlic sometimes but there is an abundance of evidence at least some fish suffer from LONG TERM garlic exposure. Everyone should decide for themslves what is best for the animals under their charge. Read the data and make an INFORMED decision.
tyler1503
2500 Club Member
Try blood worms, also sold called mosquito larvae. Full of good healthy stuff and your fish will go crazy for them! They're a bit messy, so I wouldn't use them to feed everyday, maybe just until he reliably eats prepared food. As soon as they hit salt water they wiggle and jiggle and my puffer looks like he won the lottery whenever he gets some. He just stares in excitement for a second, realises it's actually food, and gobbles them all down in half a second.
You have a gorgeous looking little fella!
You have a gorgeous looking little fella!
Try fresh live steamer clams (available at any large grocery store) and fresh frozen squid shave off in strips. Either one will usually make the pickiest eater go nuts.
