Bashful Porcupine Puffer ??

ro_ja97 · 10-30-2003, 06:34 PM

I'm pretty new to the saltwater scene. I just cycled my tank, and wanted a Porcupine Puffer, but the first time I went to the lfs they didn't have one so I ended up leaving with a banded eel. Then I went back next week and they had a Porcupine Puffer so I had to get him. So I brought him home and he swam around for about 2 hours after being put in my tank, and since then he has just kinda layed around. Its only day 2, but from 4pm yesterday through to 4pm today he's kinda just layed around behind a live rock I have hiding. He looks healthy but just seems bashful I guess. Is this normal? he also hasn't eaten anything, I'm feeding him krill and I had a piece right next to him but he didn't eat it. Is there anything I should do, or is this normal for Porcupine Puffers when they r new to a tank?

Casey · 10-30-2003, 07:27 PM

Hi and welcome to TRT

I have never had good luck with them and yes they are very shy sometimes at first mine have always died on me within a month

Mafiaman · 10-30-2003, 07:48 PM

Welcome to TRT and good luck with your new friends.

My wife has one, He's shy during the day but will come out to eat from her hand.
And at night they move around a bunch

They are nocturnal but will change their habits with a little training.

ro_ja97 · 10-30-2003, 11:35 PM

So how do you go about changing their habits? I'd love for him to eventually swim around more during the day. And also what do you feed your Porcupine Puffer, the lfs told me krill would work, he hasn't eaten any yet but I think he's still kinda shook up over all the moving, after all the day I bought him he had just come into the fish store, so he had just spent 48 hours in a bag.

jester1430 · 10-31-2003, 12:49 AM

I have had a puffer for about two months; they are less active when the lights are on, but they will learn that is when they are fed and begin to follow you around when you walk by the tank. Mine begs for food and was immediately my favorite fish. He eats frozen shrimp and VHP protein cubes. I keep him very well fed, as he is in a reef tank with some things he might decide to pick at if he was hungry. He swims to the top of the tank as soon as I open it, and if I don't feed him quick enough he spits water at me! He will also lay in my hand if I put it in the tank. Crazy........he's more of a lap dog than a fish! Keep paying yours attention and he will come around! Good luck!

icebear · 10-31-2003, 08:20 AM

my puffers are like that too (they are the little green spotted type)
they are the easiest fish to catch cause they don't try to swim away....its a PITA though when you are trying to catch someone else

Geoff · 10-31-2003, 10:07 AM

Welcome to TRT, ro_ja97 and jester1430!!!

sorry do not have anything to add, but am interested since Nikki is thinking about getting on in her tank.

G~

jester1430 · 10-31-2003, 06:00 PM

Thanks Geoff! This seems so be a great learning place with a much friendlier atkosphere than what I've seen in the past. I look forward to learning!

Mafiaman · 10-31-2003, 08:18 PM

This is MsMafia. My porcupine puffer was very bashful the first week I brought him home. I'm now going on my third week and he's finally coming around. Start trying to feed him with a feeding wand towards the bottom of the tank. Hold the wand in the same place every time you feed him. After a week move the wand slowly closer to the top until he eventually let's you feed him by hand. I haven't got to that point yet.

ro_ja97 · 10-31-2003, 09:48 PM

how many days did it take for your puffer to eat? I'm on day 3 and I haven't seen my puffer eat. There was some krill in the rocks that I no long see but I'm not sure if he ate it of if my banded eel ate it.

Mafiaman · 11-01-2003, 12:22 PM

It took two days for him to eat. That's when I started feeding him with the feeding wand.

ro_ja97 · 11-01-2003, 02:54 PM

I'm not familiar with this feeding wand is there a site on the internet you could give me so I could see what it looks like or where I could possibly buy one, or any information cuz I'm not sure I've ever heard of one before.

Mafiaman · 11-01-2003, 04:32 PM

It's a long plastic clear wand. You can get it at any pet shop. I think it's like two or three dollars. There're really inexpensive.

ro_ja97 · 11-02-2003, 09:39 PM

mafiaman I've been looking around town and I still can't find one of these wands, have you seen them anywhere on the net? Most of the fish stores I went to weren't even sure what Iwas talkin about.

Mafiaman · 11-03-2003, 05:23 PM

I'll post a picture later. I've got to run to school for a few hours.
MsMafia