SAP and Food

[MatthewLaw]

I have read about the dangers of overfeeding puffers.

I am planning on purchasing a good amount of ghost shrimp and snails for my puffer when I purchase my SAP in a week. would you recommend keeping the shrimp and snails in separate tank and only putting a few in the puffer's tank everyday or so (depending on how much s/he eats, his appearance, etc)?

also, what type(s) of snails would you recommend for an SAP? i am leaning towards ramshorn snails but any suggestions would be welcome!!

[Nick]

Ghost shrimp can usually escape for a time on there own, but most likely all the snails will be massacred.

[WalkingTarget]

Run, it's SAPzilla!

[MatthewLaw]

hahah ok.... how many shrimp and ramshorn snails would you recommend per day? 2 shrimp and one snail? i know this is an approximate figure.

[coldmachineUK]

SAPs need a regular supply of snails to keep the beak filed down but even that won't work long-term: be prepared for the DIY dentistry (there's a very helpful article in the 'pedia here but if you want any tips just PM me and I'll be happy to tell you how I go about it because sometimes an article just can't be specific enough down to the mundate things like how to hold the cuticle clippers etc).

I'd keep your snails separate, I wouldn't bother with ghost shrimp because I'd have thought they'd be too big anyway, and I'd feed a few snails a day. Ramshorns are fairly big though for an SAP: I go with the bog standard common pond snails. If you can get those it'd be better I'd have thought.

Also feed krill (preferably frozen not freeze-dried), bloodworm, mysis, etc. Those all help with teeth as well to an extent. The key is variety, and a little at a time.