The Puffer Forum

Tim wrote:

sevenyearnight wrote:I also have not read of someone *seeing* the tooth chip while eating MTS, but there are several accounts of people who have fed their puffers MTS, and then at some point, noticed their puffer with chipped teeth. So, yes, technically it could be a coincidence, but it's likely not.
I feel it is important to mention.

It is. Going out today to look for a new tank for breeding snails and shrimp. Only have a 2-3ish gallon tank for it but it doesnt seem big enough to sustain enough snails once the puffer gets bigger(It was free though so I couldn't complain). Perhaps 40-60 liters this time. Should be big enough for snails and shrimps together.

I don't know. I just learned the hard way that snails and shrimps together are not a good combination. It's only a 5 gallon tank, but still. I couldn't figure out why I would have so many snail gels and babies one week, and then the next week, have no babies or gels and lots of empty shells. If you want a huge snail population, I would strongly recommend that you keep the snails to their selves. Just my two cents. =)

@Hawkeye, congrats on your new F8 btw! He's super cute!!! =)

goldielocke76 wrote:

Tim wrote:

sevenyearnight wrote:I also have not read of someone *seeing* the tooth chip while eating MTS, but there are several accounts of people who have fed their puffers MTS, and then at some point, noticed their puffer with chipped teeth. So, yes, technically it could be a coincidence, but it's likely not.
I feel it is important to mention.

It is. Going out today to look for a new tank for breeding snails and shrimp. Only have a 2-3ish gallon tank for it but it doesnt seem big enough to sustain enough snails once the puffer gets bigger(It was free though so I couldn't complain). Perhaps 40-60 liters this time. Should be big enough for snails and shrimps together.

I don't know. I just learned the hard way that snails and shrimps together are not a good combination. It's only a 5 gallon tank, but still. I couldn't figure out why I would have so many snail gels and babies one week, and then the next week, have no babies or gels and lots of empty shells. If you want a huge snail population, I would strongly recommend that you keep the snails to their selves. Just my two cents. =)

I've read cherry shrimp are okay with snails, hoping that together with the bigger tank that will suffice. If not than oh well. I can always re-instate the small tank.

I have lost F-8s, one young GSP, and two SAPs to feeding MTS snails. That was decades ago. There are not many folks active now on the web who do not know better. At least we hope there are not.

Back then, puffer dentistry was embryonic - we had high-risk anesthetics and techniques. All of the lost fish broke dental plates below the gum line and the repeated trimming of the opposing plate as it grew was too much for the poor abused fish. Never again, NIMFT.

So now you know at least one person who has killed puffers secondary to feeding MTS, and who is rabid on the topic.

Tim wrote:I've read cherry shrimp are okay with snails, hoping that together with the bigger tank that will suffice. If not than oh well. I can always re-instate the small tank.

they are fine as long as your are attentive and provide adequate food. As soon as you slip... the shrimp are all over the snails. They are best kept separated and in species only tanks.

RTR wrote:I have lost F-8s, one young GSP, and two SAPs to feeding MTS snails. That was decades ago. There are not many folks active now on the web who do not know better. At least we hope there are not.

Back then, puffer dentistry was embryonic - we had high-risk anesthetics and techniques. All of the lost fish broke dental plates below the gum line and the repeated trimming of the opposing plate as it grew was too much for the poor abused fish. Never again, NIMFT.

So now you know at least one person who has killed puffers secondary to feeding MTS, and who is rabid on the topic.

It's "nice" to hear from someone with firsthand experience. When couldn't find any first hand experience anywhere I got stuck between fact/fiction.
Currently on the bus on my home with a fluval edge along with 10 pond snails and some ramhorn snails. The mts will be retired shortly.

J-P wrote:

Tim wrote:I've read cherry shrimp are okay with snails, hoping that together with the bigger tank that will suffice. If not than oh well. I can always re-instate the small tank.

they are fine as long as your are attentive and provide adequate food. As soon as you slip... the shrimp are all over the snails. They are best kept separated and in species only tanks.

Already sort of decided not to keep them together when i went for a fluval edge, that tank is too nice for a snail infestation.

LOL! You might not believe some of the tanks I have used as snail breeders. I have had to use a lot of snails.

+1 Right at the moment, I have a 35 gallon mirror back tank as my snail tank. It just happened to be the one available because it's an odd shape and none of the fish appreciated the mirror backing.
I will be down-sizing it to 20ish gallon as soon as I find one that I like that fits in the space I have allotted.