Trouble with feeding

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momodig
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 68
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:29 pm

Trouble with feeding

Post by momodig »

I might have to go with snails, it seems when I feed the my GSPs they're too smart and eat around the shell on the crab and shrimp? Other people that feed them crab and shrimp to help with the teeth problem, do your spotters eater around the shell? If not am I feeding it to them wrong? Also for their teeth what am am I looking for I can't seem to see any teeth in their mouth, unless it's that wierd looking plate thing?

Thanks for the advice
Nick
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Post by Nick »

Their "teeth" are that plate, it's actually 4 teeth fused into a crushing break. if it's hard to see that's good, means it's not overgrown yet. Try giving them crunchy things small enough to easily fit into his mouth. My Shakespeare will eat a snail as big as his head, he just starts at the tip of the cone and crushes the 'baby" shell where it's thin, then nibbles through the more easily crushed inside walls of the shell spiral till he has all the meat out. Try a snail about the size of his eye, and krill small enough for him to "chug" them.
momodig
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 68
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:29 pm

Post by momodig »

Well I'm having a hard time finding small snails that's my problem :( Any advice? What is krill? I can get turbo snails but they are big and more expensive, that's all I can get.
Nick
Former Staff Member
Posts: 3231
Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
My Puffers: Mine:
GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike
Location (country): Northeastern USA
Location: Middletown, CT
Contact:

Post by Nick »

Krill are a small shrimp, available frozen at many pet stores including petland. freeze dried or canned gammarus shrimp may also be available, in some stores. All help wear the beak.
momodig
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 68
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:29 pm

Post by momodig »

I can't find either of those shrimp products at my pet store, any other ideas on what I should do?
Thanks
Nick
Former Staff Member
Posts: 3231
Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
My Puffers: Mine:
GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike
Location (country): Northeastern USA
Location: Middletown, CT
Contact:

Post by Nick »

Order some online is all I can suggest at this point. Shipping should be reasonable on freeze dried shrimp. You could try live ghost shrimp, if they are for sale at any pet stores near you, but since nothing else good is, I'm not thinking you will luck on with that one.
momodig
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 68
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:29 pm

Post by momodig »

I checked big alls fishing store online, theres a bunch of stuff there but I don't want to order the wrong stuff? What about dried krill?

I couldn't find the shrimp you mentioned, here's the site perhaps you could recomend a product for me -- http://www.bigalsonline.ca/
Nick
Former Staff Member
Posts: 3231
Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
My Puffers: Mine:
GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike
Location (country): Northeastern USA
Location: Middletown, CT
Contact:

Post by Nick »

Try ordering a container of krill, any will do, but I wouldn't buy too much in case they don't like it. I have had much better luck with freeze dried foods if I soak them in water, (with garlic juice if you want, it's an appetite stimulant) overnight IN THE FRIDGE! That last part is key, they will "ripen" if left out for even a few hours, and wont' be fully reconstituted.
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Amoore311
Puffer Fry
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Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:58 am
Location: Orange County, NY

Post by Amoore311 »

My puff devoured freeze-dried krill. That was until I fed him pond snails for a week straight (population was getting out of control). Now he won't touch the things -_-.


I would also recommend frozen over freeze dried if you can find the frozen kind.
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xtc
Dwarf Puffer
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Location: Richardson, Tx

Post by xtc »

we feed ours the canned- freeze dried krill/shrimp. Sometimes he'll eat em like m&m's - but sometimes he won't touch em...then I'll put a live shrimp in and he'll rip to shreds. I think he likes to play.
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