The Puffer Forum

I was wondering what the best thing apart from snails is to feed SAP's to keep their beaks/teeth trimmed? Would they eat cockles? And also do they instinctively know to eat the hard foods? Or is that a stupid question
I've had small snails in the tank before when I had live plants and my SAP just didn't seem in the slightest bit interested in them!

It sounds like you will be doing teeth trimming then (article in our Library), as a daily diet of snails are pretty much it. I have netted the puffer & put snails into the net to get them to eat snails but it get tedious too do this daily & I think, probably stressful for the fish.

Mine get pretty much a sole diet of gut-loaded snails, and I still have to do dental work every couple of months. I have to do one tonight as a matter of fact. *sigh* I'm thinking of changing Chiquita's name to Bucky.

I'm currently using a combination of snails (Gyraulus acronicus ) and algae tablets. I'm not seeing any problems so far. Is it true that I would have to play dentist sooner or later? Algae tablets are quite hard...they are hard to the core as opposed to snails who only have a hard outer shell so I'm hoping that this will hold their teeth at bay. Don't worry...the water softens it up a bit so they won't break their jaw. I consider myself lucky that my SAPs aren't picky.

I have never seen a puffer eat an algae wafer. But you are more than likely going to have to do dental work, yes.

Manutius has said monster Clooney will eat them, so I do believe it's possible, just odd from such a small puffer.

I'd be more surprised at what Clooney DOESN'T eat than what he does. Its possible of course, just very unusual I think.

The thing I"m most suprised he doesn't eat is Manutius' fingers

My modestus puffer loves Omega One floating kelp pellets. Found this out totally by accident and it is quite funny to listen to him crunch these up as I drop them in 1 at a time. I wish it could be a staple food for him because he sure enjoys crunching them up! Snails are give or take, I offer every day and he eats them when he feels like it!

So dentistry it is then...! Is there a guide online anywhere? And where can I get the tools from? I'm so scared

There's an excellent guide on dental work in the hospital forum, one of the stickied articles.

Do I have to trim their teeth myself, because I don't think I have the heart to see a little puffer roll over looking dead. Is it possible to just feed them enough snails to keep their teeth trimmed or do I have to trim them myself??(SAPs that is)

I believe even with a 100% snail diet, you will still have to trim a couple times a year. Neale Monks had an interesting experience in a tank with a sand substrate and malasian trumpet snails(the ones that are generally bad for puffers) where his SAPs did not have a tooth growth problem, but others have tried just the mts and they alone do not work... my theory is they nip at the snails moving in the sand, but can't break the shell, and the sand over the snails being pressed against the unbreakable shell by the puffers beak sands the beak down. However, mts are believed by many to risk breaking a puffers teeth if it's too persistent in trying to break it, and there is no support for my MTS-sand beak grinder other than a single example.

Belack, unless you can find someone else to do it for you, yes you will have to do it yourself. Its rather nerve-wracking the first time but if you follow Pufferpunk's excellent guide, you shouldn't have a problem.

Alright, I'll get the tools.