Puffer Question!

[1fast300z]

Hello all,
I just threw a saltwater snail into my display to see what my puffer would do. So far he has not shown any interest in the snail. My puffer is big, about 10 inches in length. The snail is pretty big as well. My concern is this, could he possibly swallow the snail whole and have it stuck inside of him? Or is he smart enough to know that he would have to break/crack the shell first?
I am hoping he wont eat the snail so I can have a few cleaners in the tank.
Thanks,
Peter

 

[surfinusa]

im sure he is going to eat it and im also sure he is smart enough to crack the shell

 

[1fast300z]

sure is, he started going after him so i put him back in the wet/dry where he was originally I think im going to find some cheap feeder snails to throw in the display for him to munch on, any suggestions?

 

[shark bait]

It is a good idea for them to have sharp objects for them to dull down their beak like mouth. but it needs to be big enough for nim to spit it back out. Ihave seen this done many times. They will not eat the shell, but will go after the open part of the shell in an attempt to suck out the crab in side. I have even had one go after a 3-4" turdo snail, and I have 2 empty turdo shells, so I think he was fast.

 

[leftyblite]

My porc puffer stalks the snails and the crabs and then takes small nips at them until he get some of the shell off and then its goodbye to the crab or snail who was in the shell. :happyfish :happyfish