What do I give little Piggy to keep his teeth worn down?

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Stratters
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What do I give little Piggy to keep his teeth worn down?

Post by Stratters »

He's not interested in the snails, and I can't source any clams with shells locally; he's currently eating tiger prawns (shell on, chopped into Piggy sized pieces and kept frozen) and earthworms fresh from the garden, which he is very enthusiastic about, but obviously aren't going to keep his teeth down.

Any ideas? He's a juvenile Hairy, about 2.5"-3" long now.
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. RTR
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Re: What do I give little Piggy to keep his teeth worn down?

Post by Pufferpunk »

I don't believe the Lurkers to have teeth problems. Mostly, my Congo eats earthworms & shrimp.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

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Stratters
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Re: What do I give little Piggy to keep his teeth worn down?

Post by Stratters »

That's good to hear, he'd live on earthworms, given the choice. It's like watching a fat old Italian suck up spaghetti
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. RTR
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Re: What do I give little Piggy to keep his teeth worn down?

Post by RTR »

But it is still a good idea to have more than just one primary food item. The greater the variety of foods in the diet, the better the chance at good nutrition into the puffer. What one lacks, another may well compensate.
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Stratters
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Re: What do I give little Piggy to keep his teeth worn down?

Post by Stratters »

Any suggestions for additional food sources? I can get hold of mussels, but I seem to remember that they're not particularly good for them. Clams still seem to be avoiding me, but I can get mixed frozen seafood, crabstix, that sort of thing. Black worms don't seem to be sold over here. He enjoys the odd woodlouse, but they have a tendency to float around on the surface, and get sucked into the internal filter.
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. RTR
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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
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My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
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Re: What do I give little Piggy to keep his teeth worn down?

Post by Pufferpunk »

It takes time & patience to get a lurker to eat dead foods.
Follow these instructions: library/feeding/problems-feeding-your-puffer/
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

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Stratters
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 423
Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:21 pm
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My Puffers: Piggy, a Hairy Puffer
Location (country): Louth, England

Re: What do I give little Piggy to keep his teeth worn down?

Post by Stratters »

Ah, he happily eats dead things, he will try to eat pretty much anything, with the exception of his snail tank mates - you were right, he's ignoring them.

It's more of a variety problem tbh, there's not a huge choice where I live out in the sticks.
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. RTR
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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: What do I give little Piggy to keep his teeth worn down?

Post by Pufferpunk »

The produce dept of your grocery store?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Stratters
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 423
Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:21 pm
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My Puffers: Piggy, a Hairy Puffer
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Re: What do I give little Piggy to keep his teeth worn down?

Post by Stratters »

Just nipped out to get some Aquasafe.

LFS had FW crabs in, so I bought 6, and chucked one in with Piggy. Bingo, fresh crab supper, what more could a little puffer's heart desire?

He's ignoring it. He had prawn for tea instead.
Never trust big puffers. The fingers you save may be your own. RTR
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