Colomesus asellus

I'll be honest--they're getting me trained. ;) Just got back from a snail diving expedition at the LFS. I now have a 55 gallon tank that has about 150 snails in it. I will make one more trip on Monday to get some more, and hope that this along with the snails in the other tanks and the shell-on shrimp will keep them supplied with crunchies for the time that I'm on vacation.

I read today on another forum about someone who tried using a dremel on the plates of his dog-faced (marine) puffer. the beak was so far overgrown that they over lapped significantly. He ended up tearing one of the plates completely out! Terrifying.
 
I've only operated on puffer teeth once - and it ws a major trauma for me, and I assume the puffer as well, but the fish survived. I think I'm permanently scared. That may be why I'm such a nut on snail feeding. The fish was a South American BTW.

I've had others get a bit long in the tooth, then were switched to all-snail diets basically, and they recovered. The big mbu got mussels and snails, period. Krill or live earthworms were treat foods, but far from staples.
 
Hi OrionGirl

I realise this post is a bit late to say the least - I have only just got a computer that works after moving house.

Hope yours are doing well. I have two in a tank with 4 c. paleatus, 4 c. trilineatus and 6 harlequin rasboras. I realise this might not be the ideal mix but at present everyone seems happy. I had problems at first with the puffers nipping two c. aeneus' fins, to the point where I had to remove them and give them to a friend, but for some reason they don't bother the other species.

They never even look twice at the rasboras (too fast for them?).

I haven't had them long enough for the teeth to grow yet (they are about 4 - 5 months). I do feed them snails every other feed and shrimp etc, but from reading other's advice on here I fear that it is only a matter of time before DIY dentistry is required.

All in all great little fish with loads of character. How are yours getting on?

Ade
 
Mine are doing great! They are bothering the UDC, but a new tank for the cats is cycling now (established filters, plants that are established and new--it's being challenged with ammonia now) and I expect to remove the UDC, the butterfly pulcher, and if I can locate all of them, the kuhli loaches this weekend. Then the puffers and bristlenose will be the only fish in the tank.

I'm feeding them shell-on shrimp, and have some small chunks of crab, which are really too big for them right now. Additionally, I add a handful of snails or some small ghost shrimp each day. I learned quickly to feed the crunchies first, then the other foods (mix of Emerald Entree, blood or glass worms, and community formula, small amounts only!). Otherwise, the puffer pig out on the soft stuff, and barely touch the crunchies. Not a big deal with the snails and ghost shrimp, but a royal pain with everything else!

I'm also adding more plants to this tank--the goal is to have it be heavily planted, with just the few puffers and bristlenose. My only concern--they don't seem to have grown much? I'm not sure if I should be able to tell they've grown or not...I could with the dwarves.
 
Puffers are not the fastest growing fish in the world for me - most seem not to have the huge spurt in early months that many capitve-bred fish do, but steadier growth over the first year to year and a half, then slower from then on. But the "from then on" is so long with puffers, it adds up. Just as for Cichlids and Loaches.

Also, being largely wild-caught, it depends in what the locals can and do know how to catch, and do catch. For many of these beasts, they have already had the first big growth period in the wild. Dwarf and Fahaka are exceptions - they come in small/very young and do show rapid growth in captivity. I've just assumed those folk know what to catch, and how to capture the easiest shippers.
 
yeah mine don't seem to be growing very quickly. they were about 3/4 inch when i got them (if that) and now are probably just over 1 inch.

not sure what 'normal' is, but they have never shown any signs of stress and i'm happy with water / feeding regimes. they got some at the lfs after i got mine that were a lot bigger - maybe 1 1/2 - 2 inches in length but a lot more in total body mass than mine.

from what i'm told they will only get to about 3 inches in captivity, i guess time will tell!
 
That makes sense, and reassures me--I was worried that maybe they weren't getting enough to eat, despite have nicely rounded tummies. Thanks!
 
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