Is trimming teeth inevitable?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Stone Like Fish

Piranha
MFK Member
Nov 15, 2005
1,481
79
81
35
Queensland, Australia
Hey guys,

Thinking of a foray into a fahaka puffer but the teeth growth thing concerns me. Is it easy to avoid them needing a trim some day by just feeding hard shelled food? Is there an approximate as to how much they require to keep the teeth down or is it not that hard? What does one need to do or feed to make it so no trimming required?

Cheers,
Troy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey
I've kept sone puffers, and never had to trim anything. Offer the small ones snails and the bigger ones mussel shells (Ideally the mussel within the shell or closed and alive). They are hard enough to wear the teeth down and the puffers enjoy "chewing" on them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey
Thanks! Sounds like it’s not an issue if you just take care of diet choices.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey
To add, species tends to play a role in if they need teeth trimming. The teeth on a high metabolism puffer like amazons or greenbottles grow super fast and typically need to be trimmed regardless of what they’re eating. Fahakas are pretty manageable with a good diet, clams and crayfish are good options for larger puffers.
 
All about the diet
Feed solid frozen shrimp and clams
My Mbu is 5.75 years in my care
3” at arrival, currently 24”
Crayfish and snails are good too
Were the clams also frozen and was it just the clam meat or with a half or full shell?
 
To add, species tends to play a role in if they need teeth trimming. The teeth on a high metabolism puffer like amazons or greenbottles grow super fast and typically need to be trimmed regardless of what they’re eating. Fahakas are pretty manageable with a good diet, clams and crayfish are good options for larger puffers.
This would be fahaka :)
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com