Amazon Puffer - Tips Needed!

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Yep! that is a SAP! A really pretty one!

Fish keepers measure a fish's length excluding the tail fins...so from snout to the beginning of the tail fin.

They should max out at 3 inches pretty quick.

How big is yours? What size tank do you have him in?
 
purplecandle;4469115; said:
Yep! that is a SAP! A really pretty one!

Fish keepers measure a fish's length excluding the tail fins...so from snout to the beginning of the tail fin.

They should max out at 3 inches pretty quick.

How big is yours? What size tank do you have him in?
Click to expand...

Ah right cool that's good news then!

He's only a baby though, would say he was just over an inch exc tailfin...

I've got a JUWEL Rekord 600 - Not sure what gallon it is though? (I'm useless with that)...
 
If you read that article on them, you'd know they like to be in groups. ;)
 
You have a 63 gallon tank..with one sap in it?

I think you were looking for a medium sized puffer

But what you have is a small puffer in a big tank. And you are in luck! SAPs are puffers that like to school-which is rare!!!



edit! Sorry, I misread..it is only a 16 gallon!
 
these guys are really nervous... don't let that get you down. They like darker areas and to be well shaded. On the other side of the coin they also like heavily planted tanks so they can search and hunt... but the plants like the light. So you are in a bit of a quandary.

If you find the fish freaking out and pacing the glass, don't panic and don't worry. It won't grow out of it. That is just the way they are.

Once you start you snail set up.. look for ramshons and pond snails. Ramshorns grow quick and easy. Ponds have harder shells and grow a little more slowly.

I find the most enjoyment is to drop in a couple snails at dusk, turn out the lights and let the guy go hunting. They definitely have different personalities between the lights on and lights off hours.

Re Trimming: If your staple is blood worms you will have to look into some vitamin water. I use Kent Marine Zoe and thaw the cube of worms in that solution. You'll need to trim about 4 times a year or every 3 months until you can get him on a 90% snail diet. I'd avoid stringy foods like shrimp as it just gets caught in the teeth and you have to catch him to get it out, which stresses out the fish even more.
 
oh... if the snail is about the size of the puffer's eye that is the ideal feeding size. These guys are biters and slurpers. They don't "chew". If the snail is larger take 2 spoons and crush it and drop it in. You CAN use your fingers to crush the snail but that is not ideal in case you cut yourself on a shell frag. That would be nasty ;)

One of mine is due for a trim soon, so hopefully I can get a vid (if I can teach the wife to work the camera), or you can search youtube.

The dentistry article mentioned is an excellent start. Avoid clove oil and go for the MS-222 (aka finquel). You can buy it online and get the smallest possible size you can. It only take a tiny amount to put the fish under.

You can PM us or check TPF for more info (the links Purplecandle provided).
 
pic prior to teeth trimming.

Note the serrated edges on the inside of the teeth.

IMG_0798.JPG
 
Woah, are you meant to let the teeth grow THAT long before trimming?

And when you mentioned about stringy foods getting stuck in their mouths your right, it happened for 2 minutes with a bloodworm last night!

Great info though, thankyou... I wanted to get ramshorms in really, I think they'd be the best suited... And is my tank REALLY only 16 gallons?? That's pityful..! I thought it was big! And definately looks big enough for the puffer!

BTW - Do they eat the shell of the snail too? Or only the snail inside? (thus requiring you to remove the shell afterwards?)

Cheers JP
 
No, you don't have to let them grow that long. You'll notice the mouth hanging open or food getting caught & that's when it's time to trim.
 
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