my new puffer

[redlinedcj]

He's only in a 75 gallon tank now i'm looking into 120 or some 125's in the near future.

 

[sharkboy13]

cool, what kinda puffer is he?

 

[aw2x3]

Very cool Stars and Stripes!...one of my fav. Puffer species! Also...diggin' the black sand.

 

[redlinedcj]

yep stars and stripes
he is doing very well so far, he was eating shrimp and seaweed after 5 min in the tank
the only trouble i have is that he will not eat mussles or any snails and his teeth are already pretty long i've even tried breaking the top of the mussle open and he just sucks it out without biting the shell

 

[v-lioness]

That is a sweet Puffer & Like the sand......
Kaye

 

[sharkboy13]

whered u get the black sand? i might replace mine w/ it :thinking: ....

 

[redlinedcj]

i got it from petsmart

 

[dual45s]

I can't stop cracking up over that first picture. Very, very cool.

 

[stacyt]

Nice looking setup.
Does the puffer pick at the LR at all? Mine will move around the tank, and will bite the LR, chew it up & spit it back out. That helps keep his beak trimmed.
A word of caution on the sand, if its a small grain like mine. When cleaning with the mag flost it's easy to get some of that black sand in the mag float, and it can scratch the glass. I have several scratches on my 240 from this. It is also a pain to clean the sand from the mag float, as it is black it is hard to see. So be carefull when using the mag float with black sand.

 

[redlinedcj]

i usually try to run my hand on the inside mag once in a while to make sure there isn't any sand on it, if i don't go against the sand it doesn't seem to be a problem, if there is some on the bottom right along the bottom by the sand i just get it off by hand once is a while, i don't have to do that very often the 10 snails i have in there seem to do a pretty good job.
and no bernard doesn't bite the live rock also he also doesn't bite the clams or the snails

 

[redlinedcj]

here's another one

 

[stacyt]

Have you tried to just open the clam just a little bit? Just enough that he cant get to the meat inside.

 

[zanoshanox]

Very cool, I like the black sand!

 

[redlinedcj]

yea i've tried that i've also tried breaking a big hole in the top shell with a pair of pliers

 

[stacyt]

The puffer may just need a little time to adjust before eating the clam's. How often do you feed him? Maybe put a little more time between the feedings, and than put the clam in. If he is hungry enough he'll break it open himself.

 

[v-lioness]

Try placing a piece of crab leg in a Nori clip, see if your puffer will chew on that. I do this for my Puffers, Triggers and filefish .......
Kaye