Two Quick Puffer Questions

[timmystood]

Hi

I've just got two really quick questions about Puffer's in general, but specifically my figure 8's.

1. How do you know if their teeth have grown to long??

2. Where do you buy/get YOUR snails from for your Puffer's, my own snails living in my other are nearly extinct, so I need a new source!

THANKS!

 

[kanzaris]

Hi

I've just got two really quick questions about Puffer's in general, but specifically my figure 8's.

1. How do you know if their teeth have grown to long??

2. Where do you buy/get YOUR snails from for your Puffer's, my own snails living in my other are nearly extinct, so I need a new source!

THANKS!

Hi Timmystood

I had my GSP for nearly a year now and he has never had any problems with his teeth. I put some shells I collected from the beach into the tank (After boiling them) he picks them up and has a good nibble.
I get my snails from my LFS once a month but I know them well and there tanks are in good condition otherwise I would not risk it. If you got a good LFS I am sure they would be happy to get rid of there snails.

Sabby

 

[nmonks]

1. When they can't eat properly, I suppose. I tend to think about clipping the teeth of my SAP when it looks like the lips can't cover the beak. But to be honest, that's only been once or twice in the last year, so I wonder if the stories about trimming their beaks are a little over-egged. Mine seems to be able to feed just fine. Possibly it wears its teeth down on the sand when hunting for food. Don't know.

2. My tank seems to have a reasonable population of Malayan snails, and the SAP does sometimes eat teeny, tiny specimens of those. But otherwise I use native snails I grow in a half-barrel "pond" in the garden, along with Daphnia and mosquito larvae.

Cheers,

Neale

PS Sabby -- interesting your puffer seems to do its own dentistry, too. Perhaps that the secret, rather than this obsession with snails?

1. How do you know if their teeth have grown to long??
2. Where do you buy/get YOUR snails from for your Puffer's, my own snails living in my other are nearly extinct, so I need a new source!

 

[kanzaris]

I only feed my GSP twice a month with snails and he seems to eat them all at once. I put some snails in to my spare tank waiting for them to breed. I do worry about his teeth but so far so good. He likes picking up the shells it's like a game to him.

Sabby

 

[Flumpus]

I've had my figure 8 for about nine months, and I've tried to keep an eye on his beak, but I've never noticed it growing much. I have seen him chew on crushed coral though, and I will feed him snails every once in a while, so I think he takes care of it on his own.