Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board - Puffer eating clownfish

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Thanks again Justin. I wondered about feeding freshwater fish to a puffer. Once I get the clowns into my refugium he will just have to eat what I give him. Its just too bad it got broken when the hole was being drilled. I have to wait a couple of days for the silicone to dry. I may not even be able to catch them, but Gryphon probably will. I am sure that damsel fish will outlive me the little jerk. He was a good fish until he got moved into the 260g. He keeps Gryphon busy though.

I've been trying the prawns with garlic (wish I had some of them for dinner myself), but he laughs at me. Clownfish must be pretty tasty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer (Post 367801)

Please do not feed freshwater fish to saltwater predators. It is one of the worst things you could feed a puffer. The only time I would ever feel the need to try this is with something like a angler fish

who will absolutely only eat live foods. Guppies would be the choice though, not goldfish. Puffers will eat frozen foods. They do not need to hunt. Yours is already eating prawn, so you are lucky. Keep him on a good diet. Try as much different fresh but frozen sea foods as you can. You can buy them fresh but make sure you freeze them. You never know what nasty parasites are on fresh foods. Then thaw them in vitamins and feed.

Don't get you puffer in the habit of eating freshwater fish for no reason. It will lead to a shortened life. Freshwater feeders lack HUFA's(highly unsaturated fatty acids) which are vital to marine fishes diet. Live freshwater feeder fish can also have a variety of diseases and infections that can lead to infections in your puffer. Very bad idea. Try to stick to their natural diet if possible. I highly doubt if a wild puffer has ever eaten a goldfish ;)

Remember your trying to keep things are natural as possible for your puffer. Try to get some mussels, clams and maybe some squid.

What did he eat though? I thought he was eating prawns?

Quote:

Originally Posted by my2rotties (Post 367795)

Do they die when you put them in salt water? I would guess that would be "yes". He really loves to hunt but most fish would be hard to catch. The clowns and dartfish are fine now, but they probably won't sleep at night for a LONG time. Gryphon really has it out for the damsel fish but that won't be happening anytime soon. The damsel is way bigger then the clowns so I shudder at how he will eat it if he gets a lucky shot.

How do you feed them goldfish? I better not be getting any orange fish after that as well.

Well he almost got the maroon clown he is much faster then I gave him credit for... I love having my desk beside the tank I don't miss much.

They'll live for about 30min in saltwater. The puffer I had was quick and persistent when he wanted to be, it really was surprising and pretty cool.
I just put the gold fish directly in the tank, about 2 min later they were gone and the tank would be full of gold flakes :biggrin:

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer (Post 367801)

Please do not feed freshwater fish to saltwater predators. It is one of the worst things you could feed a puffer. The only time I would ever feel the need to try this is with something like a angler fish who will absolutely only eat live foods. Guppies would be the choice though, not goldfish. Puffers will eat frozen foods. They do not need to hunt. Yours is already eating prawn, so you are lucky. Keep him on a good diet. Try as much different fresh but frozen sea foods as you can. You can buy them fresh but make sure you freeze them. You never know what nasty parasites are on fresh foods. Then thaw them in vitamins and feed.

Don't get you puffer in the habit of eating freshwater fish for no reason. It will lead to a shortened life. Freshwater feeders lack HUFA's(highly unsaturated fatty acids) which are vital to marine fishes diet. Live freshwater feeder fish can also have a variety of diseases and infections that can lead to infections in your puffer. Very bad idea. Try to stick to their natural diet if possible. I highly doubt if a wild puffer has ever eaten a goldfish ;)

Remember your trying to keep things are natural as possible for your puffer. Try to get some mussels, clams and maybe some squid.

It was just for fun, not regular diet. He never gave up eating regular food either. If I didn't sell the tank I would still have him.

By your reasoning you shouldn't even keep puffers or any fish, which is crueler? I mean the worst thing you can really do to a puffer is take it out of the ocean not feed it freshwater fish.

He did eazt the first night I had him, some prawns and krill. Yesterday he was not too interested in anything I gave him. Today he had a clownfish and he did eat half a garlic prawn, but refused anymore. He is hunting and is really enjoying himself. I will try again in awhile to give him his prawn. I did what you said with the feeding stick and after ten minutes we both got tired of my antics. He went to his tunnel and I had to change my shirt. A tank that is 30" deep sucks to do anything with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer (Post 367836)

What did he eat though? I thought he was eating prawns?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 367838)

Give me a break...you know exactly what I mean. :rolleyes:

Why would you take it from the ocean AND feed it a horrible diet?

You said you used to feed your puffer goldfish, not that you used to give him goldfish treats. Either way its wrong and when someone is relatively new to the hobby don't give them advice like that unless your clear about it.

ahah ahah I was really curious to see this thread "Puffer eating clownfish"

I thought that somehow your clownfish liked eating puffers... ahah so needless to say I'm a little disappointed

I for 1 dont blame you at all.....I blame the person who sold you the fish. Wouldnt have happened in our shop. You would have been asked what other fish you had and what you planed to keep it with. Then you would have been informed of most everything you are being told here. If you were intent on buying the fish at least your decision to do so would have been an informed one.

Never really thought about Puffers eating fish until I read this post today and was a little surprised. Now out of nowhere the wife just calls and asks if I want a Puffer for my tank (which has damsels, clowns and chromis) as her co-work is thinking about getting rid of one. Talk about timing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark (Post 367932)

It really depends on the size and where it came from. Most puffers will not seek out fish to eat from your tank. I think its just more common with larger specimens that have just come from the ocean.

I have kept many puffers over the years (12 years of puffers including freshwater and brackish) and only had that one mappa ever eat live fish form the tank.

For example I would be extremely shocked to hear of a dogface eating tankmates. They are one of the most gentle puffers you will come across. They do eat most inverts and some coral though.