MTS & Green Spotted Puffers

[Gail Futoran]

I have two juvenile (about 2" long) Green Spotted
Puffers (Tetraodon nigroviridis - identification
about 97.566% certain) that I'm moving into a
new, larger tank.

For reasons I won't go into (keeping a long story
short), there will probably be some MTS in the tank.
I know the Puffers like Ramshorns but I'm concerned
that they might damage their teeth on MTS shells if the
Puffers try to eat the MTS.

Is that a concern? If so, I'll do my darndest to remove
the MTSs before moving the Puffers.

Thanks for any input -

Gail

[NetMax]

"Gail Futoran" > wrote in message
...
>I have two juvenile (about 2" long) Green Spotted
> Puffers (Tetraodon nigroviridis - identification
> about 97.566% certain) that I'm moving into a
> new, larger tank.
>
> For reasons I won't go into (keeping a long story
> short), there will probably be some MTS in the tank.
> I know the Puffers like Ramshorns but I'm concerned
> that they might damage their teeth on MTS shells if the
> Puffers try to eat the MTS.
>
> Is that a concern? If so, I'll do my darndest to remove
> the MTSs before moving the Puffers.
>
> Thanks for any input -
>
> Gail


Excellent question. I suspect not, but Fred at of
http://puffernet.tripod.com/main.html would be an ideal authority.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Gail Futoran]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> "Gail Futoran" > wrote in message
> ...
>>I have two juvenile (about 2" long) Green Spotted
>> Puffers (Tetraodon nigroviridis - identification
>> about 97.566% certain) that I'm moving into a
>> new, larger tank.
>>
>> For reasons I won't go into (keeping a long story
>> short), there will probably be some MTS in the tank.
>> I know the Puffers like Ramshorns but I'm concerned
>> that they might damage their teeth on MTS shells if the
>> Puffers try to eat the MTS.
>>
>> Is that a concern? If so, I'll do my darndest to remove
>> the MTSs before moving the Puffers.
>>
>> Thanks for any input -
>>
>> Gail
>
>
> Excellent question. I suspect not, but Fred at of
> http://puffernet.tripod.com/main.html would be an ideal authority.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk

Thanks for the referral, NetMax. I searched the
forum posts and the general consensus seems to
be that MTS/trumpet snails' shells are too hard
for puffers. However, some people reported
having no problems with very small MTS. Since
those are the ones that would probably escape my
notice, I'll concentrate on removing the larger MTS
and not worry too much about the tiny ones.

Side note: I really wanted dwarf puffers. My LFS
assured me the ones they sold me would stay
"small". To me, "small" is under 3"! :) Eventually
I'll have to give these guys away (sorry, but I will
not buy a 55 gal or larger set-up for 2 fish) but while
they're relatively small I'm enjoying them.

Gail

[IDzine01]

Don't worry Gail; grown dwarf puffers reach only 3/4". Mine prefer pond
snails but don't have any problem with MTS. If they are large MTSs they
just suck the meat out and don't even bother with biting the shell. You
really don't even need to worry about pulling the snails out. The
puffers will clean out a tank of snails in a couple of days. I have to
raise snails in other tanks in order to keep a constant supply. (Ok, I
don't actually *raise* snails, they just grow in other tanks)

Do a little research before you buy them though. They are by no means
beginner fish and will not eat flake, pellet or freeze dried food. Some
may take frozen foods but many prefer live only. They are scaleless and
sensitive to poor water conditions. They shouldn't ever be exposed to
ammonia or nitrites and nitrates should be kept below 10 - 15 ppm.
Dwarf puffers are too sensitive to most fish medications and there is a
very short list of medicine they can tolerate. Also, prepare to keep
them for a while. They have a life span of about 10 years.

They are very interactive and remind me of little UFOs the way they
float down in front of you and hover there. They are really cute and
totally vicious like a little Tasmanian devil. They do best in a
species only tank but I have had them in with zebra danios and it's
been ok (though I don't think I would pair them up again for various
reasons)

Try www.dwarfpuffers.com for more info. They really helped me when I
first started with them.

Good luck!
Christie

[Gail Futoran]

"IDzine01" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Don't worry Gail; grown dwarf puffers reach only 3/4".

The problem is I don't have dwarf puffers; I have
some version of the spotted, green, or spotted
green puffer (really hard to distinguish among them)
and they get to be 6-3/4" long. Mine are already
2-1/2" long, not including tail, and they're only about
a year or so old.

Mine prefer pond
> snails but don't have any problem with MTS. If they are large MTSs they
> just suck the meat out and don't even bother with biting the shell. You
> really don't even need to worry about pulling the snails out. The
> puffers will clean out a tank of snails in a couple of days. I have to
> raise snails in other tanks in order to keep a constant supply. (Ok, I
> don't actually *raise* snails, they just grow in other tanks)

I'm glad I don't have to be too concerned about small
MTS. I have been pulling any large ones out of the
tank (which temporarily housed some community
freshwater fish) but there are a bunch of the little
suckers left. Also some pond snails (from hornwort
stolen from one of my pond) and the inevitable
ramshorm. I know my puffers like the latter two. :)

> Do a little research before you buy them though.

What you must have missed in my original post is
that I've had these guys for over a year already and
have done a lot of research. Unfortunately, questions
remain. Hence, the usefulness of these groups. :)

They are by no means
> beginner fish and will not eat flake, pellet or freeze dried food.
Some
> may take frozen foods but many prefer live only.

Mine get frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp
(alternating days) and live snails. They appear quite
healthy.

[snip rest of stuff relevant only to dwarf puffers]

Gail

[IDzine01]

Sorry Gail. I was referring to your "Side Note". I should have
referenced.

[Gail Futoran]

"IDzine01" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Sorry Gail. I was referring to your "Side Note". I should have
> referenced.

No problem. The information *was* useful. :)

Gail