alternative diet for teeth?

[kido]

guys, just got myself a fahaka..

any ideas what alternate foods i can give this guy to make sure its teeth don't outgrow besides snails? the only thing i can source here with any regularity is market shrimp (dead) do you guys think the shrimp shells would be enough for maintenance of its teeth? i feed him mainly shrimp & cut up fish..

what about superworms?

[Nick]

Superworms are hard to digest, their shells are tough but flexible, so they don't wear teeth very well. Make sure you keep the fish in his diet to a minimum, it doesn't digest well, either, makes a lot more waste, and ALWAYS freeze for a few days then thaw before offering to avoid parasite transmission. Crayfish are an ideal hard shelled food for larger puffers, as are crab claws and whole crabs.

[kido]

thanks.. i just tried 1 superworm and fed it shrimp & cut up fish fillet after..

crayfish are the only ones that are readily available here but they cost around $2-3 so kinda expensive for a feeder.. they are usually sold as pets (fortune lobsters is what they are called here).. none at the market as well..

[Nick]

I figure 2-4$ a week is much less than it costs to feed my dog, and I bet if you arrange to buy a bunch, you could get the cost down to $1.50 or less each, and just keep a large container of a couple dozen crays.

[kido]

thanks.. well if i can't find any alternative $2-4 a week would be what it'll come down too.. but what is the proper interval of feeding foods for teeth maintenance? would feeding let's say 1 crayfish once a week and using de-shelled shrimp & cut up fish fillet as staple.. would this do?

[Nick]

how much does frozen in shell crab claw(cooked or raw) cost by you? It's a very good, tooth trimming staple, and probably not much different in price from the fish fillet, of which much will pass improperly digested anyway.

[StormySkiez]

I feed my gsp's 1 or 2 times a week hard shelled food. I can not even see their teeth they are kept so trimmed. I'm a little disapointed because their teeth are so cute.

You could try frozen thawed shell on cooked crab from the grocery store like Nick suggested. I have fed snow crab to my puffers. It cost under $2.00 for a few weeks worth of hard shelled food. His whole meal does not need to be crab. IDK how much your puffer eats at one sitting but you could try cutting a 1 or 2 inch piece of the crab to give to him along with other foods.

Have you seen all the great articles in the library here? Have a look at the feeding article: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/

It will give you more ideas of hard shelled foods in your area that would be affordable. If you monitor his teeth on a regular basis you should be able to tell if what you are feeding him is enough to keep his teeth trimmed.

[schlecht13]

Can't speak for freshwater but for marine - rub anchovie paste on some of the rocks in the tank - they go at it for hours and it wears down their beaks...I know sounds crazy but trust me - it works for Stellatus, Mappa and Hispidus....also mussels - shell closed - they have to bust it open and oh they will...just some ideas

[taureandragon76]

Also crayfish are quite easy to breed and they have a ton of babies, I just setup a 20g for them to breed and let them have at it.

[PhatPhish-91387]

Can't speak for freshwater but for marine - rub anchovie paste on some of the rocks in the tank - they go at it for hours and it wears down their beaks...I know sounds crazy but trust me - it works for Stellatus, Mappa and Hispidus....also mussels - shell closed - they have to bust it open and oh they will...just some ideas

I put live clams in there with my 8" Mappa, but he hasn't gone for it. I've been hand (tong) feeding him previous to putting the clams in there. Is this ok?

[LilGreenPuffer]

There's nothing wrong with using tongs.