My F8's are just little guys, I'm wondering what other options I have for trimming their beaks other than snails.
I would guess they are about 1.5" long.
I tried dropping in a couple snails but they weren't paying attention and now I have no idea where the snails are...
(I've looked at the foods page on here - but the other stuff seems like it's too big for them)
Thanks,
F8 Triming Foods
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Peregrine
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 290
- Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:36 pm
- My Puffers: F8's (given to a fellow enthusiast)
Fahaka (My sole project for a while) - Location: Canadian Prairies
Try crushing the snails (makes it easier to eat), an soak in garlic guard. (once they develope a taste they practically come out of the water to get them)
otherwise
1)tear up some krill into pieces
or
2)get some cocktail shrimp...you eat the shrimp...they get the tails with some meat left inside (tie to a thread and attach to the filter out flow...mine seem unable to resist a moving target)
3) you can give them clams/cockles, or muscles, opened...take out what ever is left (they dont really eat the shell, but the wearing action as they pick it clean helps)
4) even blood worms have chitinious outer layer
F8's are not as bad a their South American cousins for teeth growth...so every little bit helps...but I would not be too concerned about overgrown teeth for a long while
otherwise
1)tear up some krill into pieces
or
2)get some cocktail shrimp...you eat the shrimp...they get the tails with some meat left inside (tie to a thread and attach to the filter out flow...mine seem unable to resist a moving target)
3) you can give them clams/cockles, or muscles, opened...take out what ever is left (they dont really eat the shell, but the wearing action as they pick it clean helps)
4) even blood worms have chitinious outer layer
F8's are not as bad a their South American cousins for teeth growth...so every little bit helps...but I would not be too concerned about overgrown teeth for a long while
ok, I do have the shrimp and I had been giving them that and the krill (freeze dried), I just didn't realize that this shell would be good enough to wear down their teeth.
The snails are about that size, it's just that they don't notice me tossing them in yet.
They seem to have a really hard time finding some stuff I throw in - is this normal?
Thanks
The snails are about that size, it's just that they don't notice me tossing them in yet.
They seem to have a really hard time finding some stuff I throw in - is this normal?
Thanks
-
Peregrine
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 290
- Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:36 pm
- My Puffers: F8's (given to a fellow enthusiast)
Fahaka (My sole project for a while) - Location: Canadian Prairies
Sometime they are not paying attention and dont see the food.koops2121 wrote:ok, I do have the shrimp and I had been giving them that and the krill (freeze dried), I just didn't realize that this shell would be good enough to wear down their teeth.
The snails are about that size, it's just that they don't notice me tossing them in yet.
They seem to have a really hard time finding some stuff I throw in - is this normal?
Thanks
Couple of tricks...turn off your filters/powerheads so the food slowly sinks, and isnt washed away by the current.
2) try feeding with a wood skewer (even chopsticks) or your fingers...move the food around at the top to get their attention...
once they establish you are the source of the food, and it comes from the surface...they will be waiting there for it, the minute you enter the room.
Usually my food (snails,krill primarily) only make it an inch or two below the surface before it is eaten...and thats with the filters, and powerheads on.
My guys are waiting as soon as I open the lid with their little faces poking above the waterline...I have almost been bitten more time than I can count
Mine still seem very shy. The one will come up to the glass to check me out but the other seems more content to just pace along the glass. I've added more decorations but it hasn't seemed to effect is pacing.
I do have two gold fish in there that I have been trying to capture and put in another tank so I'm just wondering if they are bother the one puffer and making him "crazy"
I do have two gold fish in there that I have been trying to capture and put in another tank so I'm just wondering if they are bother the one puffer and making him "crazy"
Holding the food at the surface seems to work well. You don't literally need to hold the food the whole time they eat. Hold the food just under the surface, give it a little shake, the puffers should eventually notice it. Then when they come to inspect you can drop the food and watch the puffers dive down to get it.