Spiny box puffer yet to eat — advice??

[TrueNameAmended]

Hi, guys. So I’d been debating between a snowflake moray and one of the reasonably sized puffers. I came across some very healthy-looking, 4” spiny box puffers, and since the snowflake comes with some potential problems that wouldn’t quite work for my tank, I opted for the puffer.

It’s been a few days and he has yet to eat for me. Before I bought him I asked what they’d been feeding them and if they’d been eating at all at the LFS. The guy said they were but only that they were eating frozen foods. Called back a few days later to ask again and what specifically they’d been feeding them. He said a few frozen foods, and live rosy reds (which I do not want to feed it, for obvious reasons.

I’ve tried krill, squid, clams, shrimp. No go so far. He paid attention a few times like he was considering it, but has yet to actually eat. I’ve even been soaking the fresh food in garlic. Now I know they’re notorious for being tough to get eating. Water parameters are perfect. He’s energetic and looks and behaves as if he’s healthy.

Any recommendations as to what I can do to get this fella eating? And how long without eating before I need to start being concerned?

Much appreciated!

[tkiry1]

My guineafowl puffer took almost two weeks to get eating...I had a burrfish that took about 8 days....I think u r doing everything!! Clams on half shell you could try.....


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[PuffLife37]

Had one that loves blood worms and brine shrimp !!

[TrueNameAmended]

Six days now and still won’t eat. I’ve tried a few other things, including hanging some squid, clam and krill (all garlic-soaked) in the tank, using a clip so it stays in place and is there for him any time. No interest.

So as much as I did not want to, I picked up three tiny feeder goldfish, along with a couple live ghost shrimp and even a live fiddler crab. Hour later two of the goldfish were dead stuck to the powerhead (third one MIA). It’s only been a few hours but the crab hasn’t been touched, and now I’m also concerned about dead ghost shrimp I won’t be able to find polluting the tank.

I spoke to the store I bought him from and they said if he still won’t eat in a few more days, they’ll let me bring him back for a refund or exchange. Really hoping that isn’t necessary...