Help with Snail Breeding

[RTR]

Cuttlebone use is easy and common. It can be a bit $$, but I do have a lifetime supply - collected from a beach. I am more likely to use it for shrimp, or i did use it for land snails.

[~reefchik~]

RTR, cuttlebone is a very cool and relatively inexpensive idea. Thanks for sharing it. And about tuffa rock, the authors @ Wetwebmedia share your concerns about it.

[Tideshark]

If I breed freshwater snails (easy) is it safe to toss those in my saltwater tank? I heard from people that its not good to throw any freshwater food into salt tanks because something with bacteria or whatnot from the freshwater is not good for the salt water. If I could do this it would be awesome, anyone know if it will harm my saltwater tank by feeding my puffers in it freshwater snails?

[RTR]

Tideshark - I believe that you are confusing FW fish fed to SW fish with FW snails fed to SW/BW puffers. That first case can be hazardous. If your puffer is hungry and already know about snails, it will be rare for one to hit the bottom. My puff have always snarfed them up on the way down.

If they have not 'learned' about being fed FW snails, start by forceps-feeding them, holding onto the snails until the fish is ready to nibble/bite/crush. If they do not recognize them at all, lightly crush the snails at first - the puff will catch on quickly.

[Tideshark]

Yeah they are snail killers, like you said, don't even get to hit the bottom they get them so fast. This is great, I will just throw up my old little snail breeding tank then for food supply. Thats cool, yeah, my buddy used to feed live FW fish to his lion fish until the guy at the store told us not to do that. FW snails being tossed into my SW tank for food will work then, this is great, thanks!!!!

[RTR]

Yup, plenty of folk have damaged SW fish with FW feeder fish - there are enzyme incompatibilities there.

[Adria]

I wouldn't have thought of that problem! Maybe b/c I, sadly, don't have sw only fw & bw....but my puffs never let food get too far. Oh puffer forum, you teach me so much! Haha