Green spotted puffer diet help.

[kashif314]

I am about to buy a pair of puffers but the problem is there forever growing teeth and there special dietry needs.

People feed them snails but I can never and never had feed my fish live food ever. I kept predatory fish in past but never gave them feeder fish. So as now I have archers who are amazing shooters but I never tried bugs with them. I am very sensitive about this issue. Morally don't find it right to sacrifice a life to feed my fish.

What are my options for puffers if I don't offer them live snails? What packaged food I can offer them which can keep there teeth in check. Please help.

Thanks.

 

[Brookster123]

Not for your only current tank I hope???

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[kashif314]

Not for your only current tank I hope???

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Certainly not. I do have two other tanks but they have very small fish like neons and cardinals so that is why its a no home for any of my fish from my brackish setup even temporarily.

I am upgrading to a 200 gallon or more to rehome my brackish stock so that is why want to add puffers with them.

 

[Brookster123]

I don't understand? You're going to keep them with neons and cards? They're going to eat anything they Want? They're not really the best community fish either.. puffers are kind of punks .

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[kashif314]

I don't understand? You're going to keep them with neons and cards? They're going to eat anything they Want? They're not really the best community fish either.. puffers are kind of punks .

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No no. I was answering to ur question about my "current only tank". I was replying that I have two other tanks but that have small fish like neons and I am going to upgrade to a new 200+ gallon tank for my brackish stock and with that I will put puffers. I didn't say to keep them with neons lol.

 

[kashif314]

Anyone please suggest a live snail substitute for puffers.

 

[Brookster123]

Think you have to feed them snails or their teeth grow in to much and become a problem, maybe crabs or crayfish??

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[kashif314]

Think you have to feed them snails or their teeth grow in to much and become a problem, maybe crabs or crayfish??

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Can't give them live feed as I stated in my opening post. Was wondering if any packaged food can serve the purpose.

 

[Brookster123]

Read this
https://pethelpful.com/fish-aquariums/Green-Spotted-Puffer-Fish-Care-Feeding-Tank-Setup
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[Nils]

Puffers won't take any pellets, I suggest you try frozen bloodworms/brine shrimp, if you want these kinds of fish you should be prepared to use live foods as that's some of the only things they'll eat. You could try live black worms.

 

[kashif314]

Read this
https://pethelpful.com/fish-aquariums/Green-Spotted-Puffer-Fish-Care-Feeding-Tank-Setup
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Thanks for the link. Very interesting and comprehensive reading.

 

[kashif314]

Puffers won't take any pellets, I suggest you try frozen bloodworms/brine shrimp, if you want these kinds of fish you should be prepared to use live foods as that's some of the only things they'll eat. You could try live black worms.

I will look for frozen options then.

 

[Brookster123]

My pea puffers absolutely inhale frozen blood worms, they'll take glass worms and freeze dried black worms as well. Destroy b worms like no one's business though

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[kashif314]

My pea puffers absolutely inhale frozen blood worms, they'll take glass worms and freeze dried black worms as well. Destroy b worms like no one's business though

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Thanks. I have options now. Sorry I am too sensitive to give fish live feed so this is a big help.

 

[Brookster123]

I can't see depriving them of snails at the very least. The tooth thing is going to kill it if the diet doesn't first.. just saying.. don't keep something that you're not willing to take care of properly.

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[Bubba643]

I can't see depriving them of snails at the very least. The tooth thing is going to kill it if the diet doesn't first.. just saying.. don't keep something that you're not willing to take care of properly.

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I tend to agree. I know we all have different lines we don't want to cross as far as humaneness goes. However, personally I think owning a fish that naturally eats live food primarily and benefits greatly from it, and then not feeding them as such is more cruel than looking at it from a prey perspective. I think it's best to stick to what you are comfortable with but that also means having to do without owning some of the fish that eat outside your comfort zone also. Kinda the "cake and eat it too" rule.

 

[kashif314]

I can't see depriving them of snails at the very least. The tooth thing is going to kill it if the diet doesn't first.. just saying.. don't keep something that you're not willing to take care of properly.

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I tend to agree. I know we all have different lines we don't want to cross as far as humaneness goes. However, personally I think owning a fish that naturally eats live food primarily and benefits greatly from it, and then not feeding them as such is more cruel than looking at it from a prey perspective. I think it's best to stick to what you are comfortable with but that also means having to do without owning some of the fish that eat outside your comfort zone also. Kinda the "cake and eat it too" rule.

Guys I agree with u but I am talking about specimen who never ate live food and ate only bloodworms or related food all there life in captivity. I spoke with lfs about what they feed there puffers and they told me that they are giving there puffers freez dried bloodworms and kril. When the try to chew krill it keeps there teeth in check.

I then called on two other lfs and discussed with them about what they feed and they also gave somewhat same reply. One have a good packaged shell food for puffers and he said its exactly like snails and the shells protect there teeth from overgrowing. So I see hope now.

 

[kashif314]

This one they have.

 

[Bubba643]

This one they have.

View attachment 295864

I guess it's just a different way of looking at it. Like I said, definitely up to each individual as to what they are comfortable with. To me that food is the same thing as feeding live snails or in this particular case freshwater clams, there is just a middle man that does the pre killing and charges a few extra bucks for it. But I understand, I certainly pay a butcher to do that for my dinner and I'll openly admit it's hypocritical but it's what I'm comfortable with. Can't say I would honestly eat as much meat if I had to witness or take part in the dirty work. My apologies I took your post to mean you didn't want any living things harmed in anyway in order to feed your fish, outside of worms or brine shrimp. Glad you found a workable option, they are very cool fish.

 

[kashif314]

I guess it's just a different way of looking at it. Like I said, definitely up to each individual as to what they are comfortable with. To me that food is the same thing as feeding live snails or in this particular case freshwater clams, there is just a middle man that does the pre killing and charges a few extra bucks for it. But I understand, I certainly pay a butcher to do that for my dinner and I'll openly admit it's hypocritical but it's what I'm comfortable with. Can't say I would honestly eat as much meat if I had to witness or take part in the dirty work. My apologies I took your post to mean you didn't want any living things harmed in anyway in order to feed your fish, outside of worms or brine shrimp. Glad you found a workable option, they are very cool fish.

What I mean is that most people say that its natures law and it happens in wild but my theory is in wild the prey has a chance to escape. But under confinement of a tank the prey has to be eaten sooner or later so uts definitely not nature's law.

Yes like u said. I eat chicken but I can't kill a chicken from my own hands. Or I don't even go to a butche shop. I buy frozen so I don't know who slaughtered it and its in the market. I buy and eat and same for cooked foods.