Dwarf Puffers : Feeding

Feeding

Dwarf puffers can be easy to feed as well as difficult. Some of them are still collected from the wild (though most aren't), so getting them to accept prepared foods can be a chore. Others, however, will eat just about anything you put in front of them. The best way is to try various foods and see what works. Please note that it is common for them to not want to eat for the first few days you have them in your tank. They will eventually come out of their shyness and begin to eat, though.

Frozen Foods - Bloodworms (midge fly larva - probably 90% of Dwarf Puffer owners use these as the main meal for their pets), Brine Shrimp, Mysis Shrimp, Daphnia, Tubifex Worms, Glass Worms (mosquito larva), and Krill. Remember that when feeding frozen food to your puffers, you should always thaw it before putting it into the tank. A great way to do this is to put the food, along with some water from the tank, in a small cup or shot glass. Then you can pour the food into the tank when it's thawed. Also, pouring the food through a brine shrimp net or other fine-meshed net will remove a lot of the extra "junk", causing less unnecessary pollution in the tank (thanks to RTR for that tip).

Eating Frozen Bloodworms

Live Foods - Blackworms (commonly available, will stay alive in the refrigerator for a few weeks), Brine Shrimp and Snails. (Note: Brine shrimp are lacking in nutritional value and should not be a staple food source, but instead a treat)

Eating Live Worms

Snails - Dwarf Puffers are molluscivores just like many of their relatives and should have snails in their diet. Not only are they a natural food for the puffers, but they also help them practice their hunting skills. Most snails are too large for them to "crunch" in the manner that other puffers do, but they will definitely take on a snail of any size. Regular pond snails are best because they have thinner shells and they are easier for the puffs to get to. As far as Dwarf Puffers needing snails in their diet to "wear down" their teeth, it has been agreed upon by most in the forum that they are not necessary for this. Dwarf Puffers seem to have no problems at all with overgrown teeth (unlike almost all other puffer species).

As for feeding the snails to them, all you have to do is drop them in the tank.... the puffers will hunt them on their own (quite fun to watch). They stick their head into the shell and start thrashing around. It looks like a dog with its head stuck in a cardboard box!

Make sure to give them snails every now and then as a treat. Your local fish store will usually give snails to you for free, or you can raise your own. Two great articles on raising snails for puffers can be found here and here.

Hunting A Snail

Flakes, Pellets and Freeze-Dried Foods - While some people have had limited success with these types of foods, the majority have not. The dwarves will usually completely ignore these. If flakes are taken, they should not be a staple food source as they are lacking in nutritional value.



- About Dwarf Puffers - Scientific Names - Size & Appearance - Sexing - Breeding - Personality - Tank Size - Equipment - Plants & Decorations - Tankmates - Cycling - Maintenance - Feeding - Water Parameters - Diseases & Treatment - Ren's Posts - Native Plants - Links Page - Dwarf Puffer Forum - Back to Start Page	Feeding Dwarf puffers can be easy to feed as well as difficult. Some of them are still collected from the wild (though most aren't), so getting them to accept prepared foods can be a chore. Others, however, will eat just about anything you put in front of them. The best way is to try various foods and see what works. Please note that it is common for them to not want to eat for the first few days you have them in your tank. They will eventually come out of their shyness and begin to eat, though. Frozen Foods - Bloodworms (midge fly larva - probably 90% of Dwarf Puffer owners use these as the main meal for their pets), Brine Shrimp, Mysis Shrimp, Daphnia, Tubifex Worms, Glass Worms (mosquito larva), and Krill. Remember that when feeding frozen food to your puffers, you should always thaw it before putting it into the tank. A great way to do this is to put the food, along with some water from the tank, in a small cup or shot glass. Then you can pour the food into the tank when it's thawed. Also, pouring the food through a brine shrimp net or other fine-meshed net will remove a lot of the extra "junk", causing less unnecessary pollution in the tank (thanks to RTR for that tip). Eating Frozen Bloodworms Live Foods - Blackworms (commonly available, will stay alive in the refrigerator for a few weeks), Brine Shrimp and Snails. (Note: Brine shrimp are lacking in nutritional value and should not be a staple food source, but instead a treat) Eating Live Worms Snails - Dwarf Puffers are molluscivores just like many of their relatives and should have snails in their diet. Not only are they a natural food for the puffers, but they also help them practice their hunting skills. Most snails are too large for them to "crunch" in the manner that other puffers do, but they will definitely take on a snail of any size. Regular pond snails are best because they have thinner shells and they are easier for the puffs to get to. As far as Dwarf Puffers needing snails in their diet to "wear down" their teeth, it has been agreed upon by most in the forum that they are not necessary for this. Dwarf Puffers seem to have no problems at all with overgrown teeth (unlike almost all other puffer species). As for feeding the snails to them, all you have to do is drop them in the tank.... the puffers will hunt them on their own (quite fun to watch). They stick their head into the shell and start thrashing around. It looks like a dog with its head stuck in a cardboard box! Make sure to give them snails every now and then as a treat. Your local fish store will usually give snails to you for free, or you can raise your own. Two great articles on raising snails for puffers can be found here and here. Hunting A Snail Flakes, Pellets and Freeze-Dried Foods - While some people have had limited success with these types of foods, the majority have not. The dwarves will usually completely ignore these. If flakes are taken, they should not be a staple food source as they are lacking in nutritional value.	100% freshwater temp. around 80°F 3 gallons per fish frozen & live foods adult size = 1 inch stock ratio = 1m/2f curious and active very intelligent!

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