Ok, from all the extensive research that I have done, this fish loves Malaysian trumpet snails. These snails also happen to have a very hard shell so they are great for keeping the puffer's teeth filed down. I have found several places to purchase them online like ebay but how should I feed them to the puffer? Just dump all the snails into the tank and let the puffer eat them as he pleases or keep a separate tank just for them and feed a couple to the puffer each day? Id rather not have a separate tank for them if possible...
Asellus pufffer question
- Thread starter clawlan
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Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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hm. i heard they are good for puffers because of the hard shell as opposed to softer shell snails which are still good for food but don't provide as good beak growth management.
But this doesn't answer my question anyways. Should i dump a bunch of snails in the tank and let the puffer eat whenever it pleases, or only add a couple snails each day for the puffer to eat?
The truth is any snail that the puffer will eat is they right kind.
What you have to realize about the puffers is they like to forage for food but they also need a varied diet like all other fish. Consider snails ruffage.
It would be best to keep a separate tank for your snails and once a week throw a few in the puffs tank. Also as with any live foods you need to know that the source is reliable so that you don't bring any disease into your tank.
As far as the snails shell being too hard, unless you have a 24" puffer that could fit a nickel sized snail in his mouth I wouldn't worry about it. The puffers will usually eat smaller snails and just pick at the shell and trap door of the larger ones.
What you have to realize about the puffers is they like to forage for food but they also need a varied diet like all other fish. Consider snails ruffage.
It would be best to keep a separate tank for your snails and once a week throw a few in the puffs tank. Also as with any live foods you need to know that the source is reliable so that you don't bring any disease into your tank.
As far as the snails shell being too hard, unless you have a 24" puffer that could fit a nickel sized snail in his mouth I wouldn't worry about it. The puffers will usually eat smaller snails and just pick at the shell and trap door of the larger ones.
Thanks for the info fishy matty. I'll set up my 10g for snails i guess. I plan on purchasing some ramshorn, common pond, and malaysian trumpets to feed the puffer. I also plan of feeding frozen mysis shrimp and blood worms.
Did you just get him or you haven't got him yet?
If you did get him is he eating yet.
I always have a hard time getting certain puffers to eat when I first get them.
If you did get him is he eating yet.
I always have a hard time getting certain puffers to eat when I first get them.
I just picked him up last night. He is about 1" at this point. The store was out of bloodoworms so I am running back out tonight to pick some up. I have neons in the tank also and I fed them this morning with sinking pellets and flakes but the puffer was not into it.
I'm going to get the bloodworms and hand feed him with a pair of tweezers this afternoon and see if he takes.
EATING UPDATE:
He is obsessed with his reflection, keeps going up and down the sides of the tank. I have tried covering the side of the tank with paper to minimize the reflection, and moved the plants to the sides of the tank to break the line of site but he still goes after himself.
I did get him to eat one single bloodworm though so thats a decent sign. He still is looking pretty skinny. I'm hoping to order some snails off ebay tonight or soon and that will allow him to graze at his leisure.
He is obsessed with his reflection, keeps going up and down the sides of the tank. I have tried covering the side of the tank with paper to minimize the reflection, and moved the plants to the sides of the tank to break the line of site but he still goes after himself.
I did get him to eat one single bloodworm though so thats a decent sign. He still is looking pretty skinny. I'm hoping to order some snails off ebay tonight or soon and that will allow him to graze at his leisure.
alright he has seemed to settle down a little. I came home and watching him grazing on bloodworms that i had dropped in the tank this morning. Yes I know I shouldn't have extra food in the tank but I needed to make sure this guy was eating. Once I get him transferred to the big tank, I can put snails in the smaller and feed him those.