Feeding Figure-8 Puffers

[Matt Shepherd]

We picked up some puffers last week (same time as the "blue lobster"
discussed in another thread) and I'm just doing some research on what
to feed them. LFS guy said they'd be okay with flakes, but they seem
profoundly disinterested.

I tried them on some frozen brine shrimp (thawed in a glass of water
first) this morning with some success. I can't get live food around
here and don't really have the cash to buy another tank to breed
snails: other suggestions?

Lateral thinking: will snails breed OK in a plain cheap fishbowl?

Thanks!

Matt Shepherd
www.man-man.org

[Laura]

Hi
I used to have some a while ago and I found they almost never eat the flake,
brime shrimp was ok and they loved the frozen blood worms, so you could try
them.

"Matt Shepherd" > wrote in message
m...
> We picked up some puffers last week (same time as the "blue lobster"
> discussed in another thread) and I'm just doing some research on what
> to feed them. LFS guy said they'd be okay with flakes, but they seem
> profoundly disinterested.
>
> I tried them on some frozen brine shrimp (thawed in a glass of water
> first) this morning with some success. I can't get live food around
> here and don't really have the cash to buy another tank to breed
> snails: other suggestions?
>
> Lateral thinking: will snails breed OK in a plain cheap fishbowl?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Matt Shepherd
> www.man-man.org

[Bob in PA]

> > Lateral thinking: will snails breed OK in a plain cheap fishbowl?

I believe the only thing snails won't breed in is a wet sock, but I
haven't really researched it. Seriously though, I kept snails in an old
glass jar, without food, water changes, dechlor, or anything else for
months. They only died when I forgot to put some water in the jar.

Hope this helps,

Bob
--

Check out my pond webpage:
Http://trains99.tripod.com

Click on the My Pond Link under Places to Go

[Tedd]

"Bob in PA" > wrote in message
...

> They only died when I forgot to put some water in the jar.
>
> Hope this helps,

i think that says alot, not sure if it's about the snails or the keeper though.
(j/k)

;-)

[Bob in PA]

"Tedd" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Bob in PA" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > They only died when I forgot to put some water in the jar.
> >
> > Hope this helps,

ahh, I'm starting to sound like that Great Deals guy, the one who feeds his
fish chicken and pumps air with a bicycle pump...

[Rickenbacker]

The only thing I could get my Figure 8 to eat was freeze dried bloodworms,
hand-fed. Anything else he'd just ignore.

[Madpiano]

You probably should have researched puffers, before you bought them....

Figure *s are brackish fish and eat snails, bloodworm and shrimp. If you are
lucky, they will accept frozen, otherwise you will have to buy them
life-food. Most of them ignore flakes. They absloutley need to eat snails,
otherwise their teeth grow too long. You better get snail breeding and stock
up the freezer.

[Matt Shepherd]

> You probably should have researched puffers, before you bought them....
>
> Figure *s are brackish fish and eat snails, bloodworm and shrimp. If you are
> lucky, they will accept frozen, otherwise you will have to buy them
> life-food. Most of them ignore flakes. They absloutley need to eat snails,
> otherwise their teeth grow too long. You better get snail breeding and stock
> up the freezer.

No argument about the research -- I figured LFS guy knew of what he
spoke, more fool me.

So the F8s seem to like frozen brine shrimp OK and my vermicompsting
worms OK, but I need to start fast-breeding some feeder snails for
them. Oddly enough, the one tank that HAD snails (both the little
"common" coil-shelled ones and trumpet snails)now only seems to have
trumpet snails. The more "common" snails were quite an infestation for
a while, but disappeared after a couple of months with no help from
me. There are a few under the top rim, but I could find maybe two last
time I checked.

Do F8 puffers eat trumpet snails? If so, how much/how often?

And what are the ideal conditions to breed feeder snails quickly? I
have one of those little plastic "kid aquariums" fishbowls reserved
for the purpose, but would like tips on temperature, food types, etc.

Are all snails created equal? Can I swing by the LFS and grab a bunch
in hopes they'll breed in a simple bowl with some gravel and fish food
in it?

I'd like to make sure my puffers stay healthy, and I need snails!

- Matt Shepherd
www.man-man.org