new puffer not eating

[lopezpm12]

Hey guys,

I need a little help. I bought a porcupine puffer a couple a days ago. I brought him home and he seemed to be happy swimming around and investigating things. The only problem is that I can't get him to eat. He ate a piece of squid but spit most of it out. That's about it, he'll look at the food but wont go after it. The only thing that really catches his eye is the yellow damsel I have in there. He seems to really want that. I made sure he was eating before I brought him home. He ate at the store. Any ideas?

[madman19710]

he will probably eat live food then slowly make the transition to frozen

[lopezpm12]

hey thanks for replying madman,
I have a Kole Tang, Clown, Niger Trigger and 3 damsels along with the puffer. I feed them formula 1, squid, and marine cuisine I thought he would have liked one of those.
I stopped by the store on the way home yesterday and got frozen brine shrimp and krill. Well as soon as I put some brine in the water he swam over to see what what was going on but didn't want any. I threw a piece of krill in there and he loved it and wanted more. So I am feeling a lot better now. He bit it, chewed it, and spit it out, and went after it again. But he doesn't like the little pieces.
I threw another piece in and the trigger grabbed it, the puffer chased him down and took it from his lips as he was holding it.
I had a puffer a couple of years ago for about 6 months and one day he just stopped eating and died after a week or so. So now I get scared when fish don't eat.

[Samper]

Want your puffer to eat? I added one to my tank about a month ago after a completely stupid impulse buy. I too could not get my puffer to eat but after a week I noticed that he wasnt getting thin. I have a few anemones in my tank and on closer inspection noticed pieces missing. I didnt think the puffer could eat my anemone however one night I witnessed it happen. Started reading and found out that they like to nibble and pick at rocks on the reef as well as your reef animals. One site even went so far as to call them the oscars of the ocean. Finally I went out and bought a bag of sally silversides. They are just a baitfish silver looking minnow. My puffer tore into them like they were going out of style would even eat them out of my hand, however he kept eating the anemone so I took him back to my shop for full credit. Ill own another one day when I can devote a tank to fish of this type. I'm no expert but I do research what I buy now. If you have any other questions message me or something. Hope I helped ya out.

[Pet Lover]

Puffers are one of the COOLEST fish ever for a FOWLR tank.

Mine did not eat for about 10 days. I agree with the starting him on live food but be careful because it is not good for them to eat only live food and mine wouldn't NEVER eat anything else. .........
It does take TIME for them to adjust...
Make sure your water quality is good also..
Good Luck!