puffer fish

[iidylii]

does anyone who has a puffer fish feed them anything for them to wear there teeth down? I guess I just didn't know if they would do this on the LR and or random shells that are in the tank? I just start to wonder if my puffer is being bothered by his teeth because he appears to rub his face up and down the tank glass several hours a day...which I know a lot of fish do this for whatever reason but like I said I thought since he was a puffer maybe he was trying to grind his teeth down?

I forget who else has a puffer so I decided to post here thanks in advance...

 

[beth]

Yes, they do need some hard shelled foods to gnaw on, such as shrimp with the shell intact, snails, crabs, etc. You can get these items at the seafood counter at the grocery store, just be sure that shells remain. How long have you had him?

 

[iidylii]

I have had him 6 months...this could explain where my nesarious snails disappear to...I mean I was aware that he wasn't exactly reef safe but I really don't see him eating my crabs or snails...I mean he might go pick at there flesh every so often but he doesn't sit there and make a meal of anything...he does keep my long spine urchin trimmed nicely though...I have a feeling I should probably find somehow to get him a new home with someone else...

so you must just buy dead snails crabs and shrimp?

 

[beth]

Yes, hard shelled food to keep him from eating your livestock.

 

[jay0705]

You can feed him live, crabs and snails. Generally just cheaper to buy fresh or frozen. I feed my clams on the half shell, prawn, and occasionally crabs and snail.

 

[jay0705]

Triggers are similar w this aswell

 

[iidylii]

Is this something done once a week or how often?

 

[jay0705]

They won't really over wear them, so I usually do every other day

 

[jay0705]

If your really clever you can stuff food in an old snail shell. They will crack the shell to get at it

 

[iidylii]

Well I may be going to the grocery store today for some shell fish lol

 

[jay0705]

Getting fish food myself today lol. What type of puffer?

 

[iidylii]

Saddle...I guess I'm just gonna get some clams...I assume throwing raw/frozen shrimp won't do a whole lot since there not all that hard...

 

[jay0705]

They say the shell is hard enough. Just buy 1 and see. It should pick at it. You want raw tho. Also my saddle would eat live ghost shrimp meant for my lion

 

[iidylii]

Yeah I'll try a shrimp and or clam today like I said u was just worrying because he seems to be rubbing his face up and down the glass a lot

 

[jay0705]

Yea thats intresting. Still eats ok tho

 

[iidylii]

Yeah he eats mysis brine and bloodworms

 

[jay0705]

Ok then there not too bad yet

 

[iidylii]

going swell so far...tossed in a piece of raw shrimp and he started eating it then my cleaner shrimp came up and just took it from him so then I put a piece of raw shrimp in an empty snail shell and now hes not smart enough to find it along his usual path so now my crab is having a nice feast lol..oh well not real worried about it

 

[jay0705]

Surprised the cleaner shrimp isn't on his menu lol

 

[iidylii]

yeah puffer you are a disgrace to puffers everywhere...your food source is walking away with your food source while eating your food source lol