I can't get him to eat. Help.

[tone973]

He eats a little bit of misis shrimp but can't get him to eat good. Flakes to. Hi just nibbles. Any suggestions?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

How long has he been without eating?

 

[tone973]

No he eats just not enough. I guess you can say he has no apatite

 

[NanaReefer]

Whatever he's eating try adding a little garlic to it. It is said to have appetite increasing properties.

 

[eliramos]

beautiful fish def try some garlic

 

[RJAllen]

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.

 

[tone973]

tank is a year old. I added some garlic to the shrimp and he ate like crazy. My question is can I use garlic every time I feed without messing up any parameters in my tank?

 

[NanaReefer]

Your better off soaking his food in the garlic, drain and then feed. I'm happy he's eating for you!

 

[tone973]

Ok soak and drain it is then. Thank you.

 

[RJAllen]

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

 

[NanaReefer]

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]

He/she eating some, so that is progress..Sounds like you are on the right track..

 

[tone973]

Yea I hope so. I'm in the process of getting a 40 breeder up and ringing so I can put my clowns and coral in there own tank. He nibbles at coral and we can't have that.

 

[RJAllen]

Then someone better point this out to Ocean Nutrition & their Formula One Flakes as they make them with added garlic.

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.

 

[Paul B]

Throw your flakes away, then try to throw an earthworm near him.

 

[Emerdog]

I have a spotted puffer and never had any problems

 

[tyler1503]

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!

 

[Dog Boy Dave]

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.

 

[Davesgt]

Very nice fish glad he's eating now!