Puffer eating clownfish

sphelps · #1 12-11-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

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.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #2 12-11-2008, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps

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.

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

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.

superduperwesman · #3 12-11-2008, 10:32 PM

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

fishytime · #4 12-11-2008, 10:39 PM

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.

my2rotties · #5 12-12-2008, 03:52 AM

I will never go to that store again. I usually don't but hubby had to pick up pipe fittings and that was the only place that had them that he knew of. He saw Gryphon, and knew I would love him. I asked many questions and asked if my other fish were safe. I was going to go with a smaller puffer, but this guy seemed so special, not only due to his size. His colouring, eye brightness and general health far surpassed any of the others.

Shoot me a PM and let me know what store you are from...

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime

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.

midgetwaiter · #6 12-12-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my2rotties

I will never go to that store again. I usually don't but hubby had to pick up pipe fittings and that was the only place that had them that he knew of. He saw Gryphon, and knew I would love him. I asked many questions and asked if my other fish were safe.

IMO that's a bit of an over reaction. Puffers and triggers have more individual differences than other fish and that makes it difficult to give advice in this situation. They also have moods.

I've kept many different types of puffers over the years and the only thing I know for sure is that you never know what they are going to do. My Green Spotted puffer killed 6 blue damsels overnight once but never touched another fish in the 12 years I had him. Porcupine puffers are even more moody, I used to maintain a tank that had a 12" one who was a model citizen until he decided to tear a fire clown in half one day. He never did it again.

I wouldn't be surprised if you porc never killed another fish, they aren't naturally Piscivores. I wouldn't be surprised if it did though.

Red Coral Aquariums · #7 12-12-2008, 01:15 PM

my2rotties;
I have just read this thread through and am sorry to hear about your unfortunate circumstances.
On another note puffers are so much fun to watch and feed and they have SO much personality, congrats on your purchase.
As far as the "I will never go to that store again." the responsibility is ultimately on you to research your purchase. LFS's should give you responsible advise but in the end it is your decision.
We have a Spiny Puffer that a customer had purchased in town when it was very small but as it grew; fish in his tank started to disappear. So if you are interested in a tank of puffers we have an excellent one that can be hand fed ( but will eat anything that will fit in it's mouth) for a very good deal.
Kevin

Pier Pressure · #8 12-12-2008, 02:50 PM

I think you should maybe go back to the lfs and talk to Danny. I have taken creatures back to him before that did not work out in my system and was given straight-across store credit for them. Just FYI I am sure he would be willing to do something for you.

sphelps · #9 12-12-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

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.

For entertainment my friend, the same reason I setup and anyone else sets up a saltwater tank, not because its the humane thing to do. And like I said it wasn't the diet.

I never told anyone to feed their puffer anything, I simply made the point that puffers will most certainly eat other fish which seems to be related to the topic. So I'm not sure why you would say what I said was wrong?

GreenSpottedPuffer · #10 12-13-2008, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps

For entertainment my friend, the same reason I setup and anyone else sets up a saltwater tank, not because its the humane thing to do. And like I said it wasn't the diet.

I never told anyone to feed their puffer anything, I simply made the point that puffers will most certainly eat other fish which seems to be related to the topic. So I'm not sure why you would say what I said was wrong?

You inadvertently did give that advice. At least someone (I know I took it that way) could mistake your comment for being advice on feeding a puffer. I just think you could have been more clear and actually have included some details...like it was a treat maybe.

All I did was make sure people understood how horrible of a diet that would be. The you cleared it up but started an argument instead of leaving it at that. Sure taking fish form the ocean is worse than feeding them a bad diet by why would you even go there...you knew that was not my point. I have no problem with fish coming from the ocean or I would not be in this hobby.

I think you do an amazing job with your tanks and people respect your opinions. That makes it even more important that you are clear. I did get a PM right after that BTW asking how to feed goldfish to puffers and another asking if it was ok to do.

I agree to a point with this posters views on keeping large fish but I have to agree, I couldn't do it myself if I felt quite so strongly about it.

My opinion is that there are species that should not ever be in LFS unless someone orders them specially. I also think every other species should be brought in as small as possible and safe. There is generally an ideal size for most species. For example I would say porcs should only be brought in 5" and under. Or...Naso Tangs, again under 5" or so. There is a huge difference between a fish that has be "raised" in a tank and one that has grown in the ocean. The younger the fish, the better they adapt generally.

I do not blame LFS for this alone by any means. I said earlier about that large tang that if it sits there and no one buys it, I bet the owner will not bring them in again. I think I said it would be ashame for it to die but it would also save many others...in theory anyways. It all stems form the collectors and lack of collection laws.

My father lives in Singapore and dives almost weekly throughout South Asia. I go a few times a year to join him and the **** you see go on down there would probably make most of you feel terrible about how you fish get here. The large fish are the worst to see.

Anyways, I do kind of agree that the original poster has a lot to sort out about how they feel about captive fish. This is not the hobby for you if you don't feel most fish are doing well in aquariums. Its a selfish hobby and you have to be ok with that. But I also think some people are being a little harsh with there crazy drawings and all out attack. Im not saying you are though, sphelps.