What can I feed my figure 8 pufferfish? Are mealworms or tilapia safe?

Most puffers will not eat flakes or pellets. They need live or frozen foods. They also require hard foods to keep their teeth worn down. The local Petco will likely have these foods in stock. If the tank is overstocked, he may be stressed. He may also have an infection (bacterial, fungal or parasites) that are causing his symptoms. Ideally, a new fish should be quarantined for 2-4 weeks before being introduced to the main tank.

Feeder fish can be added to the diet, however you must consider the source. Typically these fish are kept in a tank with hundreds of other fish. This predisposes them to infection and parasites which could be transmitted to your frog. As an occasional treat, they are fine. Stick with responsibly raised insects and nightcrawlers. Another treat to be given occasionally would be a pinkie (baby mouse).

Thanks for reaching out about your Pacman frog. A wide variety of insects is best, and they should be gut loaded to provide additional nutrition. The type of fish more depends on the size of the fish and frog. Minnows or guppies should be fine for most smaller frogs. Good luck.

The pellets shown should not be fed to turtles for any length of time. Doing so may lead to nutritional deficiencies. If you feed a pelleted diet, choose one specifically for turtles. You can also offer feeder fish, nightcrawlers and freeze dried prey made for turtles. Turtles are omnivorous, so you should be offering chopped fresh greens and vegetables in addition to animal protein and a pelleted diet.

You can try feeding them commercial fish food or meal works from your local pet store. If you would like a consult, you can provide pictures and we can give you a better idea of what kinds of fish they are and if they have special requirements for their diet. Hope this helps!

Feeding soft shelled turtles is not difficult, adults are carnivorous and feed on a wide range of fish, mollusks, insects, amphibians and even carrion in the wild. If it swims or crawls, an animal is at risk for a soft-shelled turtle’s lay-and-wait hunting strategy. These turtles are not picky. Feeder minnows and goldfish, earthworms and night crawlers, waxworms, crickets and even frozen-thawed (size appropriate) rodents can be offered to pet soft-shelled turtles.

You can offer feeder fish, crickets, mealworms and waxworms. Gut load insect prey to maximize nutritional value. This can be done by feeding them a high protein baby cereal, tropical fish flakes, fresh fruits and vegetables for 24 hours prior to offering them to Lucy.