Puffer has hunting problems!?

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He is just having trouble catching them. I put a crayfish in and he nipped him a couple of times, but hasn't killed him yet. The crayfish hides behind a plant in the corner. :) He eats his bloodworms ok. He has also eaten a couple of guppies. I think it is just immaturity. I put some mystery snails in there, but he doesn't seem to know that it's food. I guess he will learn.
 
My puffer is still having some hunting trouble. How long should I wait before becoming really concerned. I put a crayfish in with him a week ago and he still hasn't killed him. The crayfish doesn't even hide anymore because he feels safe. Is there anything I can do?

Tammy
 
Just give it some time, the fahaka is still young and small. Like stated, just leave them in there and keep an eye on them, b/c until he eats them, they will help clean the tank. They have to learn that live foods have to be killed, and also learn how to catch something that has a little speed to it. As for the snails, for the first time you can crush one up just a little so he cn smell it and then associate it with food. When looking at a snail the first time, they might not recognize what it is.
 
Thanks I appreciate the advice. I tend to worry too much sometimes. I love him to death, he is so cool to watch. He already comes to the glass to greet me everytime I come into the room. I'll keep an eye on him.
 
They have to learn that live foods have to be killed, and also learn how to catch something that has a little speed to it.
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HUH? This fish comes from the wild. All it's ever known is catching fast-moving live foods. Puffers go on a food strike when they are moved. Try earthworms, mine never turned them down (except after moving him--he went on a 2 week food strike).
 
Pufferpunk;1616040; said:
HUH? This fish comes from the wild. All it's ever known is catching fast-moving live foods. Puffers go on a food strike when they are moved. Try earthworms, mine never turned them down (except after moving him--he went on a 2 week food strike).
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He will eat the bloodworms that I feed him. He also ate a couple of feeder fish when I first got him. He will chase the ghost shrimp and even the crayfish, he just seems like he can't catch them. Now he seems to have lost interest in the crayfish. He acts scared of him. He nipped the crayfish's tail a couple of times, but the crayfish seems to thwart him everytime.:confused:
 
Pufferpunk;1616040; said:
HUH? This fish comes from the wild. All it's ever known is catching fast-moving live foods. Puffers go on a food strike when they are moved. Try earthworms, mine never turned them down (except after moving him--he went on a 2 week food strike).
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Well yes when he associates it with food he will eat it, which in turn will kill it. I was just stating that he is young and might not have the skills yet to catch something with a little speed or something that is more agile than himself. Puffers are not a fast moving fish, they can manuever very well and spin and turn, but flat out speed is not their forte (i know i spelled something wrong but u guys know what im trying to say).
 
Believe me, if he's not skinny, he's been fast enough to catch prey in the wild.
 
Pufferpunk;1618883; said:
Believe me, if he's not skinny, he's been fast enough to catch prey in the wild.
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So would there be another reason that he seems uninterested in eating the cray? Last night he attacked the cray because it was in his space, but when the cray moved away some, he just ignored him. Like I said before, he eats the bloodworms I feed him, so he has an appetite.
 
Maybe it pinched him! That might deter him from eating it for a while. How big is the pouffer & how big is the cray? I hate to do this but sometimes you need to rip off the claws of the cray. Also, how often do you feed your puffer?
 
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