Valentini Puffer Diet

[feeeesh]

Hi everyone, i just received a valentini puffer. Really cool looking fish and am hoping he adjust well to my 75g. I am a little uncertain what to feed it. I see posts about giving it a meaty diet and providing hard shells every now and then. But where do I get these foods? Can someone provide guidance on specific brands of meaty food and “shelled” food? Thank everyone!

 

[blaxsun]

Thinking about getting one of these, so watching with keen interest. Is your tank a mixed reef or FOWLR?

 

[Pistondog]

Have a blue spot, similar to valentine.
No special foods, mysis or marine cuisine.
My Toby nips at all hard things, can't have acros in his tank. Plating montis or stylos seem to be tolerated. He also ate the zoas. Many other lps and softies seem to be ok.

 

[feeeesh]

Thinking about getting one of these, so watching with keen interest. Is your tank a mixed reef or FOWLR?

Hey blaxsun. Mine’s a FOWLR. I am especially worried about the diet bc i have lots of hermit crabs, snails, and a pistol
Shrimp. Would hate to lose them to a hungry puffer

 

[blaxsun]

I have lots of zoas, so while the puffer would probably be ecstatic - pretty sure I wouldn't be...

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi everyone, i just received a valentini puffer. Really cool looking fish and am hoping he adjust well to my 75g. I am a little uncertain what to feed it. I see posts about giving it a meaty diet and providing hard shells every now and then. But where do I get these foods? Can someone provide guidance on specific brands of meaty food and “shelled” food? Thank everyone!

Meaty Meaty Meaty. They may go after shrimp so you know.

LRS reef frenzy
Brine shrimp
mysis shrimp
tubifex or black worms
Hikari marine cuisine
Small plankton

 

[MichaelReefer]

To stop him from nipping at things, make sure you feed clams or something hard every week. Helps trim his beak down.

 

[feeeesh]

Stop stop him from nipping at things, make sure you feed clams or something hard every week. Helps trim his beak down.

Thank you. But where do i get the clams and am i also including the shells?

 

[MichaelReefer]

Thank you. But where do i get the clams and am i also including the shells?

Yes with Shells. Your local fish store should carry them. They are halves with the shell. Let them thaw in a cup of tank water for 10 minutes or so, with your frozen food if you use it.

Bio-Pure Frozen Clam on a Half Shell

Clam on a Half Shell was specifically designed for Puffers, Triggers, and other fish who need to grind their teeth to keep them from getting too large. The clam meat is packed with amino-acids, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids which makes it a great food source for all different types of fish...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Zionas]

I’ve lost interest in getting one, but is it true that they really have to be fed these foods with hard shells? What happens to their teeth if they aren’t fed stuff like that?

 

[MichaelReefer]

I’ve lost interest in getting one, but is it true that they really have to be fed these foods with hard shells? What happens to their teeth if they aren’t fed stuff like that?

They can die. The beak will over grow and fuse and they won't be able to eat

 

[feeeesh]

Hi everyone, just to close the loop, i got some great recommendations. It also seems like the puffer’s teeth are too small now to need the clams but i will start using them when i take it from my qt to my dt

 

[feeeesh]

Hi everyone, just to close the loop, i got some great recommendations. It also seems like the puffer’s teeth are too small now to need the clams but i will start it after i take it from my qt to my dt

 

[Zionas]

Yeah glad I opted out of considering one. I think their needs are a bit too specialized.

 

[LayT27]

Hi everyone, just to close the loop, i got some great recommendations. It also seems like the puffer’s teeth are too small now to need the clams but i will start using them when i take it from my qt to my dt

How do you know about what size he will need to get to feed clams? I got a 2inch one that eats everything so far but i havent fed clams or anything cause they are bigger than he is at the moment.

 

[feeeesh]

How do you know about what size he will need to get to feed clams? I got a 2inch one that eats everything so far but i havent fed clams or anything cause they are bigger than he is at the moment.

Sorry for the delay in responding, LayT27. Just noticed this. Mine is about 2-2.5 inches. Every about 5-6 days I drop a a hikari clam in the half shell in the DT and the puffer goes right for it. Drags its teeth across the shell so I guess its working as a file. Not sure if I am doing this correctly so open to advice for others

 

[mediapnk]

No special foods, mysis or marine cuisine. it is ture