Pufferfish make great tropical pet fish, but you should be aware of their special requirements and needs. This article will cover nutrition, diet and care information to ensure your pufferfish has a long and healthy lifespan!
Puffers are carnivores that feed on mollusks, crustaceans and small fish. Their unique set of teeth allows them to crush hard shells with ease.
Contents
Feeding
Puffer fish are tropical fish found in freshwaters, marine and brackish water around the world. With proper care and attention they can live for 10 or more years in an aquarium environment.
Puffer fish can eat many common household items, especially seafood. Unshelled shrimp is an ideal source of hard, crunchy meal for puffer fish; however, crabs and shrimp contain an enzyme which prevents vitamin B1 absorption – so to ensure your puffer fish gets all of its necessary vitamins, thawed shrimp or crabs should be soaked in a vitamin B1 supplement prior to consumption.
Puffer fish enjoy the shells of clams, cockles and mussels; these smaller creatures have a thinner shell which puffers can crunch with their beaks.
Diet
Puffers make great pets, but they require special food to grow up properly. Hard-shelled foods such as clams, shrimp and snails should be fed to them during captivity to help maintain their beaks and teeth while growing up in captivity.
Your pufferfish should be fed several times a day, depending on its size. Young puffers can eat small frozen fish and vegetables while larger specimens should receive fresh meat products.
They can also be supplemented with vegetable and plant-based food to provide them with a more balanced diet. If you’re uncertain of what to feed your puffer fish, consult an expert.
Freshwater pufferfish typically need to be fed daily, while marine pufferfish can be given food once or twice a week. Feed small shrimp, snails, algae pellets and crayfish for best results.
In addition to feeding puffer fish, it is important to inspect their water quality and disease for signs of illness or weakness. They are highly sensitive to low nutrient levels and may contract internal parasites if left unchecked.
Breeding
Freshwater puffer fish can be challenging to keep, yet rewarding for experienced aquarists. They come in an array of colors and sizes.
Tropical puffer fish are renowned for their unique hunting habits and ability to inflate themselves when a predator approaches. Furthermore, these creatures possess toxic venom called tetrodotoxin, which is used as an effective weapon against them.
Puffers are endearingly fat yet cute-looking fish, making them a favorite among aquarium keepers. Their distinctive faces and peculiar hunting abilities make them an eye-catching addition to any tropical fish tank.
These animals can be found around the world, though most are native to South East Asia and India. Because these breeds tend to be aggressive and territorial, if you’re interested in purchasing one as a pet, make sure it is one that has been carefully raised by its breeders.
The dwarf Malabar puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus), also known as the figure 8 puffer, is one of the smallest and most commonly kept puffers in captivity. This vibrant yellow fish has olive to dark olive stripes down its belly as well as rings or partial rings of yellow all over.
Care
Tropical puffer fish can be quite hardy creatures when properly cared for. To ensure their wellbeing, they require a healthy tank with ample room to grow and flourish.
Fish require a diet that replicates their natural habitat. This can be provided through providing them with various shelled and crustacean foods they can choose from at will.
Shelled and crustacean foods such as shrimp, clams, snails, and other shelled or crustacean species may be found at your local pet store.
Many of these foods are flake or pellet types specifically tailored for puffer fish. In addition to commercial foods, you should supplement them with small shrimp, snails, algae pellets and young crayfish as well.
