Dwarf Puffers And Snails...

[eustoma01]

So I've been slooooooooooowly getting my tank ready for a dwarf puffer and in the process was going to breed ramshorn snails, but eventually decided against it after finding out that they don't need to eat hard foods to keep their teeth in check and that in a lot of cases they can't really even finish eating a snail if it is too big and that they just take chunks out of it or end up killing it without finishing it, leaving you to do the cleanup.

BUT I've been seeing a lot of posts lately where people say they feed their dwarf puffer snails so now I'm considering doing it again since it essentially would be a free food source... would just like some clarification from people who actually breed snails for their dwarf puffer.

 

[CaptainAquatics]

So I've been slooooooooooowly getting my tank ready for a dwarf puffer and in the process was going to breed ramshorn snails, but eventually decided against it after finding out that they don't need to eat hard foods to keep their teeth in check and that in a lot of cases they can't really even finish eating a snail if it is too big and that they just take chunks out of it or end up killing it without finishing it, leaving you to do the cleanup.

BUT I've been seeing a lot of posts lately where people say they feed their dwarf puffer snails so now I'm considering doing it again since it essentially would be a free food source... would just like some clarification from people who actually breed snails for their dwarf puffer.

Hi! I have had my dwarf puffer for a very long time (about half a year). Since I got him I have been feeding him a snail based diet. I feed him pond snails that I grow in a 10 gallon tank underneath one of my other tanks. He really likes them, I wouldn’t recommend trumpet snails as there shells can be a bit tough for the puffer to chew (which they do like to do). I also feed mine blood worms and bring shrimp which he also likes. Hope this helps

 

[eustoma01]

How often do you feed him the snails? I have Ramshorn snails and recently some Lymnaea snails that hitchiked some plants into my tank. How big do the snails have to be for him to eat them? How do you deal with having to remove the snail carcasses after?

 

[CaptainAquatics]

How often do you feed him the snails? I have Ramshorn snails and recently some Lymnaea snails that hitchiked some plants into my tank. How big do the snails have to be for him to eat them? How do you deal with having to remove the snail carcasses after?

Hi! I feed him 1-2 snails a day. I give him pretty much any size snail I can grab the easiest. He will eat small snails, big snails, and and size in between. I typically just remove the shells with water changes. Sometime I will just leave the shells I. There though so he can chew on them, lol

 

[Puffer_Whisperer]

If you have the snail supply to feed your puffer every day, do it. However, if you cannot, feeding you puffer snails once a week is more than sufficient, especially if it is only a dwarf puffer. I have three gsp puffers and feed them about 30 snails a week, and their beaks are fine.

 

[Rich Johnson]

Hi! I feed him 1-2 snails a day. I give him pretty much any size snail I can grab the easiest. He will eat small snails, big snails, and and size in between. I typically just remove the shells with water changes. Sometime I will just leave the shells I. There though so he can chew on them, lol

I'm confused. We're talking about DWARF puffers, right (Carinotetraodon travancoricus)? They don't crush the shells like bigger puffers. They suck the snails out and leave the shells intact.

 

[upinak]

I'm confused. We're talking about DWARF puffers, right (Carinotetraodon travancoricus)? They don't crush the shells like bigger puffers. They suck the snails out and leave the shells intact.

My puffer crushes tiny snails and sucks (or plucks) the larger snails out of their larger shells. Not all my shells are intact. I guess it depends on the puffer. My girl is a little hog.

 

[Rich Johnson]

My puffer crushes tiny snails and sucks (or plucks) the larger snails out of their larger shells. Not all my shells are intact. I guess it depends on the puffer. My girl is a little hog.

This just proves how different individual dwarf puffers can be.