Puffer hunger strike, help

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Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2005
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Michigan's UP
My Arrowhead puffer has been on a hunger strike for over a month now.

He/she will not eat anything. For the past three years it has always been a good eater: krill, silversides, raw shrimp, live earthworms, live crayfish, and the occasional treat of live yellow pearch minnows from the bait shop (QT of course before feeding.)

I am getting worried because the puffer will take a bite out of whatever is offered, but not eat any of it. The last crayfish I put in were there for two weeks before I took them out and gave them to my cichlids instead. Out of desperation last week I put in a few minnows and he ate one (more like bit it and never finished), but never went for the others.

It is no longer cruising the tank either, just stays in the sand all time. He used to be an active puffer (for an Arrowhead), especially at night.

I don't know how old the puffer is, it was grown when I got from a LFS (they gave it to me for $5 because it had been in the store a year as a trade in.)

29 gallon tank
0/0/>5 for ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte
80 degrees
WC 50% or more every week
 
Sometimes they just go on hunger strikes for some unknown reason..

You could try a live earth worm or night crawler...those are known to end hunger strikes..

I had a turgidus that went on a hunger strike...I still fed him every day...and then took the food about a couple hours later..

The strike ended, when I stopped feeding it LOL

I did not put any food in for about 2 days...and then on the third day I put something in an he ate it and stopped his hunger strike...

I think the logic was.."mom hasn't put food in for a couple of days, maybe she forgot about me. When she puts food in the next time, I'll eat because she might not feed me again"
 
but garlic is usually used for frozen / dry foods as an attractant. I'm not sure if he can strap some minced garlic to a live cray. :) It would be funny to watch the attempt though.

I don't know if it can be done / has been done or is even possible, but some people gut load their shrimp prior to feeding so that the puffer gets a varied diet. I wonder if garlic would work as a gut load to make the live bait more appealing?

Or maybe it is time to re-think entire diet.
 
How often have you been feeding him previously?
 
He is feed every two days, about twice a week.
 
Lurkers don't exert much energy, so they don't need much food. Give him a 3-4 day time out from food & try with a live earthworm.
 
My fahaka was eating krill when I first got him. The day after I gave him his first mussel he was like pssh... I don't want this krill anymore. I've tried the garlic thing, and moving it around with a string attached to it. He just refuses to eat krill anymore. I didn't feed him for 3 days and he still only took a small bite out of the krill so I gave up.
 
The last crayfish I put in were there for two weeks before I took them out
Click to expand...
I just caught this. It bis possible the cray fought back & frightened or hurt the puffer. Definitely try a less-aggressive food, like an earthworm.
 
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