The Puffer Forum

Since the bloodworms are frozen, I assume it'll need to use it's teeth to "chip" the food, like eating snails right? Or am I wrong?

You have to thoroughly defrost any food you give to your puffers in a cup in their own tank water before feeding them. Snails and mussels and other hard shelled creatures are the only things that will keep their teeth at suitable length.

Chin- whats the reasoning for defrosting the food? I can't remember oddly enough.

so you don't add to your bioload. and you get what you're feeding clean and rinsed, so you do not add unwanted nastys also...

Right! I have no clue how/why I forgot that one! Thanks Jase.

sure thing

I imagine there might be an element of concern on the frozen part, as well. Like humans, if you chew on ice cubes, there's potential risk of developing hairline fractures in your teeth. You never know, puffers could get it too, which would cause their teeth to chip/break a lot easier. *Shrug*

good thinking Agnate.

The intestinal lining of fish are very sensitive and do not tolerate very cold foods.

I think their teeth are tougher. when was the last time you were chompin on snails or mussels?

Yunachin has it right--both on not feeding frozen foods, as it can do internal damage to the fish & by rinsing off the "juice" they're stored in, with a brine shrimp net, you are not adding to your bioload.

I rinse all my frozen food in a stainless tea strainer.