The Puffer Forum

I decided that the right puffer for me is an amazon puffer, my tank is heavily planted so in need some snails. I have three large apple snails that are about the size of golf balls. Would it be safe to keep these with the puffer? They are really big so i am confident that he could not eat them but we he nip there tenticals and such?

Yep, the snails probably will be nipped by curious SAPs, and may lose their eyestalks and have various other bites taken out of them.

Your tank will need adequate swimming room for these very very active puffs. Ideally, you'll want to plant the back of the tank densely, and leave open space at the front for their busy swimming. They also appreciate some semi-heavy current from powerheads or filter outflow.

Have you read the info in the Pufferpedia on the dentistry needs of SAPs? Be prepared to trim teeth under anesthesia a few times a year. The dental stuff is the reason I've never tried keeping SAPs. They otherwise sound like really awesome puffers.

They are great fish and reasonably undemanding, but their dental needs can be a put off. Even if 95% of their diet is crunchy regular teeth trims may be needed. They are social and need to be kept in groups of 3 or more and a very long tank is required for swimming, high flow and lots of decor to prevent boredom. The most amazing fish to watch though.

library/puffers-in-focus/sap/
library/hospital/dentistry/

I know about the dental needs, but will they really torture the big snails? Also is a 29 enough for a pair

Yes, they will torture the snails

They prefer long tanks & to be in groups of 3 or more. Their main diet is snails.

+1 to PP, Flutter, & beries comments above.