The Puffer Forum

Hi Guys,

I noticed that in the puffer aquarium pictures, there are shells(opened clams) on the floor of the tank... I was just wondering whether they were just left overs or really left there for a purpose?...

I already read the feeding and care of puffers, and they mentioned to feed shelled sea foods, and i was just wondering whether to open or just leave the clam as is?...

Thanks guys!:)

I leave snail shell fragments in Shakespears tank, as I have rock substrate and the additional PH buffering is useful to me. However, in tanks that do better with a neutral PH, it's better to remove them.

Thanks Nick!:)

Was just wondering, If I leave shells on the floor, will the puffers have the natural instinct to "trim their teeth"?

How do they trim it naturally?

I tend to remove the shells every other day and even after feeding my mbu still chomps the fragments in the tank. Their teeth would be kept trimmed by their natural diet in the wild by cinsuming molluscs abd crustaceans

Oh ok, in my aquarium, would I just leave them shells?

Not for a long time as it can effect the water chemistry. Leaving for a day or two shouldn't cause a problem thoug

Depends on the type of shells and whether there is any meat left in them. I leave clam shells if all of the meat has been removed, but remove snail shells as they often have some meat left that will rot and add to the bioload.

Taking the clam shells out of the 5x2x2 can be a bit of a hassle. i leave them in there as my fahaka likes to investigate them from time to time.

why is that a hassle if you don't mind me asking? I find it no problem as for two reasons, I have very long arms and my tank is only 10 inches off the floor. Do you have a regular stand for yours then? Whata bout a nice little step to help you reach the bottom or some flippers and a snorkel

LOL getting things off the bottom of a 2' deep tank is a HUGE hassle! You should see me trying to plant my 60 cube and I have VERY long monkey arms!

Yay a fellow gibbon limbed being, other than actual gibbons of course!!!!

manutius wrote:why is that a hassle if you don't mind me asking? I find it no problem as for two reasons, I have very long arms and my tank is only 10 inches off the floor. Do you have a regular stand for yours then? Whata bout a nice little step to help you reach the bottom or some flippers and a snorkel

Here's a picture of me stood next to my 5x2x2.



I'd need longer arms. As it is, to do algae scrapes I need to stand on a chair, and I'm 5"11.

ah I see the problem you have there. How about some kind of Tom Cruise Mission Impossible pulley system .

What does the tank llok like full?

Just like that. Except with a Fahaka in it.

That first picture nade me laugh!!

How long have you had the tank up and running?