What happens when you feed a puffer too large a snail?

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saffier
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What happens when you feed a puffer too large a snail?

Post by saffier »

I tried feeding my puffers snails for the first time a few days ago. I thought they seemed small enough, but I'm wondering now if the snails were too big, can they cause problems with choking? The reason I ask is that I lost my puffer a few days after the snails and I am hoping it's just coincidence- but does this happen?
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Hilly
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Post by Hilly »

As a general rule, feed a snail the same size as the puffers eye. However some can tackle much bigger snails with no problems at all.

Where did the snails come from, were they quarantined for a period of time before they were given the puffer?
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Boxermom
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Post by Boxermom »

Chances are it wasn't the snail but the uncycled tank.
Tina

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Post by Stormylee »

The puffer can eat the snail meat out of it's shell, I put one in for decoration and within 5 minutes he was toast...
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OraLacerta
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Post by OraLacerta »

Yes, it sounds like a coincidence. The reason for the guideline 'snail the size of the puffer's eye' is so the puffer has to crush the shell in order to get to the meat. With larger snails they tend to slurp the snail right out of the shell thus defeating the purpose.
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