SAP Diet/Teeth

[AZ Burns]

Hello all,

I have a 30 Gallon (36x12x16) That I was planning to set up for a SA puffer. I have a 10 gallon loaded with java moss, cherry shrimp, ramshorn and pond snails, all breeding like mad. I plan to switch over to a 20 high for raising the snails and shrimp to feed the puffers.

But I have read at a few sites that even with a steady "hard" diet SAPs need their teeth trimmed. Is this true? I planned to give snails every day, shrimp a little less often. And freeze dried/frozen food occasionally. Will this still not be enough to keep tooth growth in check?

Thank you for your time,
AZ

[Nick]

It seems their teeth just grow too fast in captivity to NOT need trimmer regardless of diet.

[apachepufferman]

Their teeth do grow really fast but if you keep the main part of there diet to snails that should help there teeth out quite abit. I have found with all my puffers that each one is very diff and that they each react diferent. So you may set up an environment that doesn't require trimming. I'm sure someone has at somepoint. If they don't need a person to trim their teeth in the wild; then if you work hard enough at it you should be able to duplicate that I believe.

If you are thinking to shy away from them just because of the trimming I would really suggest that you get them. They are really cool puffers. I just love mine!!