How Much/Often To Feed Dwarf Puffers

JPDVM2014

JPDVM2014

and I'm an addict!
Jun 16, 2008
251
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New Jersey
Just got my DP's the other day. Might have to trade in one...he is getting picked on by the other two. I would rather try and get a new one then just let him get beat up. Anyway, i'm just wondering how often and how much i should feed them. I saw on dwarfpuffers.com that i should feed them bloodworms every other day and until their bellies are round. But i don't really know if i'm doing it right. Right now i have the hikari frozen bloodworms that come in little individual squares. I thaw out a square and put the bloodworms in the water a little at a time with a turkey baster. I stop once the puffers seem to not notice the worms anymore. I was also wondering if i could use one of those mesh feeding cones with frozen bloodworms or if they would only work with live? Thanks.
 
I tried doing this about a week before i got them and for some reason none of the ramshorns made it. I think it was because they were shipped and i didn't acclimate them properly. But i'm in the process of setting up an invert tank and as soon as i get a population going in that i'm going to try getting a population started in the dp tank. From what i've read it might be difficult though. XD
 
You can also feed dp's frozen brine shrimp as well as bloodworms and live snails. Every other day is a good feeding schedule for the little guys, and I would watch to not overfeed them as they trick you into thinking they're not full yet. I would say feed each puffer 2-3 bloodworms/adult brine shrimp, etc. at each feeding, and that's it. How big is the aquarium you're keeping the dp's in? Make sure the tank is heavily planted/has many decorations so the dp's can establish territories and break up their line of sight of one another. A good stocking rule is 1 dp for every 3-4 gallons.
 
If you want some more info about DPs, check out www.thepufferforum.com. There is a ton of info about puffers on there.

Feed as much of a variety as you can: krill, mussels, clams, squid, crab, scallops, shrimp, snails, etc. Frozen or live is really the only way they will eat. You might be able to get them to take freeze dried, but it should be soaked first. Anyway, I recommend feeding a small amount every day for smaller puffers. Only the larger puffers should be fed every other day or even less often. For DPs, they are so small that they need to be fed every day. Do like you are doing by feeding only enough until their bellies look rounded (but not too huge).

Be sure to include as much crunchy and meaty foods as possible to keep those teeth trimmed down or you will have to sedate them and trim the teeth by hand (extremely unpleasant, take my word for it). Blood worms and brine shrimp are also eagerly taken, but they really don't do anything for the teeth and must be supplemented. Also, brine shrimp should be soaked in spirulina as the brine shrimp alone are not nutritious enough.

Krill is okay to be given, say, once a week, but it should not be given as the primary diet as it can cause lockjaw if given too often.
 
saram521 said:
You can also feed dp's frozen brine shrimp as well as bloodworms and live snails. Every other day is a good feeding schedule for the little guys, and I would watch to not overfeed them as they trick you into thinking they're not full yet. I would say feed each puffer 2-3 bloodworms/adult brine shrimp, etc. at each feeding, and that's it. How big is the aquarium you're keeping the dp's in? Make sure the tank is heavily planted/has many decorations so the dp's can establish territories and break up their line of sight of one another. A good stocking rule is 1 dp for every 3-4 gallons.
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Thanks for recommending a number of worms. That is what i was looking for. I'm more of an exact measurement kind of person instead of a "do it till it looks like this" person. I've only got 3 DP's in a pretty well planted 10 (heavily planted once they fill in) so i guess i will have to cut the hikari squares into smaller bits because there is way more than 6-9 worms in the squares.. lol.
 
Pleas keep us posted on your DP tank. If I don't get a female Krib soon, my next tank will be DPs and I'm very interested in other people's DP tanks.
 
I feed a little everyday of a variety of foods. mostly blood worms and mysis shrimp with live snails thrown in every now and again. Just enough so that they get happy round bellies.
 
Yea i think i will prob end up feeding everyday. I just can't help looking at the tank and wondering if they are hungry. They are finally settling in and now they "run" up to the glass when they see me there and just look at me. At least if i feed a little everyday it will put my mind at ease. lol.
 
most agression issues are from food, lack there of, i kept mine fully stocked with snails all the tyime i had over a hundred, but stocked slowly over years of having them,
in with my puffers in a 20long and never fed anything elese so they fed themselves and were never hungry i would as a treat give bloodworms but just for my entertainment,.. they are ment to eat snails but you have to feed the snails a very good diet, to keep everyone healthy,..they lived in their own snail farm, but water quality is a must,.. also i kept cherry shrimp in there with them to aid in the clean up of the snail victoms,.. they ate well and it was a self sutaining system ....
except that you had to feed the snails and shrimp,..

brine and some of the other stuff isn't nutritionally complete stuff to feed dwarfs, they tend not to need much as larger puffers fto wear down their teeth,..

also tons of plants will help them and their tank,..
 
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