Dogface Puffer feeding question

[i<3fish]

I just got my Dogface Puffer yesterday. I acclimated him perfectly, and he is doing great. He is already eating. Not my question is about feeding, and his teeth. I know that they need food to grind there teeth down, but what kind of food does that? Coud I buy whole clams from the grocery store? I dont know where to get cockles or whole scallops. Right now for food, I have silverdies and raw shrimp. What else can I feed him to grind his teeth down? Thanks!

 

[lion_crazz]

Use shrimp, krill, prawn, and the whole clams from the grocery store would be fine.

 

[i<3fish]

What about silversides? Are they OK? I will be buying some clams today. Do you just drop the whole clam in? They are big...

 

[lion_crazz]

You can always try to get smaller clams if they are available. If not, put the whole clam in and take it out when he is done eating.
I never liked silversides for puffers because puffers aren't really fish eaters. They are invert eaters, whereas silversides are more for lionfish and groupers because they are fish eaters.
I never really experienced a puffer liking silversides.

 

[oreo12]

There is some calm meat raw packed in water in a can in the caned meat section of you store. I always fed mine shrimp and flake food

 

[i<3fish]

ok i just got some mussels from the store. they are in a full shell. so, how do i feed him that? do i open up the shell and thaw it and toss it in? they are uncooked also
mine ate half a silverside today. i think he likes them. so now i have raw shrimp, silversides, and raw mussles in a shell for him. will thyat do for now? i will shwitch foods every once in awhile.

 

[oreo12]

sounds great my wife tells me the fish eat beter than she dose.

 

[i<3fish]

Haha! But what about the mussels? Do I open them up and just drop it in (once its thawed)?

 

[oreo12]

I would open it take out the meat and just put the meat in.

 

[i<3fish]

But I heard that they need the shell so they can grind there teeth down. Since there teeth constantly grow...?

 

[nigerrabit]

Can you get them regular foods, and put empty shells in there? I thought they would naturally file their teeth down if you just put in empty shells....