The Puffer Forum

Ok i got mussle from the beach and they are in his tank(thy have barnacles on them)(once he discovered the crab and snail... well they went fast) but he hasnt found at there food so do i cut them in half??

I don't recommend using food straight off the beach because of the potential parasites in them. Frozen mussels from a grocery store or fish market are the best way to go because once they are frozen it kills off any bad bacterias. I would take it out ASAP.
When you do get mussels from the store defrost them in a cup of the puffers tank water and then you can crack them in half with a knife. Just be very careful not to cut yourself, sometimes mussels can be a pain to open.

Ok thanks yunachin. I will take them out right now.

You should be able to find a wide selection of seafood in your local grocery store.

Yunachin couldn't be more correct! Off the beach could harbor not only parasites but run-off from other passer-bys, oils, etc...Glad you removed it!

If you happen to have an asian market nearby - we are very fortunate in OKC (hope I am in Fort Lauderdale for all my fish's sakes!) in that we have markets where there are literally maybe a hundred choices of (fairly) fresh fish - I always freeze it before using, but it makes a great amalgam of different choices for all to enjoy - I make all my own food - beginning with fresh bought/freezed and mixing in selcon, vitamins, Zoecon, just about everything. Occasionally you have to get them used to the taste...mussels are great - I sometimes just poke holes in the shell with an ice pick - they got the idea pretty quick that opening them up would yield a better meal watching them open clams/mussels/smash up urchins, is another demonstration of how powerful their teeth really are - they are extremely adapted to crushing things...this of course helps wear down the teeth - although honestly this has only been a problem once for me with a very picky A. Mappa....