Feeding my Dwarf Puffer

[vanalisa]

Hi,

How do I know how much to feed my Dwarf Pea Puffer? Her Name is Niblit. She slurps up bloodworms like spaghetti and never gets tired of snails. How big a belly is too big a belly?

I'm happy she is eating, it took a few days until feeding time was smooth and successful. Now that we have it together I feel like she will eat as much as I will give her!

What is a good amount? I don't want to overfeed, and I dont think I have yet...its just...well...those eyes!
She just looks longingly at me when I peek in. Floating there, rocking to and fro. She is showing her little yellow fins a bit now, too. She is irresistible. Do fish beg?
Help.

 

[Retired Viking]

When I had puffers I noticed the same thing, not only did they come over to the side of the tank when I approached but would give me the "eyes" treatment like my dogs Back then there was little info about puffers so I fed them fish food as the LFS said. I found out about snails when they killed a snail I had in the tank, they also killed a fiddler crab day one.

 

[Colin_T]

Baby fish should be fed as much as they can eat in 5 minutes, and they should be fed 3-5 times a day.

When they are mature you reduce the feeding to once a day and as much as they can eat in 30-60 seconds.

 

[vanalisa]

Baby fish should be fed as much as they can eat in 5 minutes, and they should be fed 3-5 times a day.

When they are mature you reduce the feeding to once a day and as much as they can eat in 30-60 seconds.

I don't think she is a baby.
Sometimes she waits a while to go after the snails, but bloodworms don't last long. I only put a couple of those in. Spaghetti!

Sometimes I just put a couple of smaller snails in and don't wait around. Sometimes I see her peck at a snail right away, though.

Her belly stays full now, (as opposed to when I first got her ), but I can't tell if it's too much.

Do you think I should skip dropping the extra snails in?

 

[Colin_T]

Puffer fish need snails or mussels to belp wear their teeth down. If they don't have hard shells to bite on, their teeth grow too much and they need dental work. So keep feeding snails, mussels in the shell, dead prawns or crabs in their shell.

 

[vanalisa]

Puffer fish need snails or mussels to belp wear their teeth down. If they don't have hard shells to bite on, their teeth grow too much and they need dental work. So keep feeding snails, mussels in the shell, dead prawns or crabs in their shell.

She's tiny, would she still be able to eat mussels and crab? I won't ever get those things, I'm just curious.

Please don't take offense, I know how crucial and serious it is for larger Puffers, but I have to laugh at the thought of Niblet getting dental work!!, little tiny chair, miniature dentist, etc...

 

[JxsPxxle]

She's tiny, would she still be able to eat mussels and crab? I won't ever get those things, I'm just curious.

View attachment 97825
Please don't take offense, I know how crucial and serious it is for larger Puffers, but I have to laugh at the thought of Niblet getting dental work!!, little tiny chair, miniature dentist, etc...

I concur with @Colin_T , these puffers are actually the only species which have no issues with their teeth growing to much. Although snails are their main food source in the wild, they are technically not necessary for dwarf puffers. However, it is recommended and they do enjoy them by the looks of it!