poofer died

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It would be extremly rare that a puffers teeth over grow it's mouth to the point where the can't eat. I have read about it and heard about it but in pushing 20 years of dealing with fresh and salt water puffers, I have never witnessed it. I have my doubt to weather or not it can even happen. As much as they "test taste" everything including gravel and decorations, thier teeth should be fine.

I'm not very experienced with figure 8 puffers, I've had them to sell to people at the shop but I never had one personally long term. They don't seem to be as mean as some of the other puffers are. I'm sure many here have had them long enough to give some advise on tank mates for one (Jen's suggestion for example).

Also, what it was that killed your puffer is a great question. YOu may want to do a little investigation before getting new fish if you haven't all ready. (water quality for example)
 
A puffer generally 20 gal. of tank space each. Puffers do not get along with other fish very well unless the other fish are faster and larger than the puffer. I put snail shells in my Brackish water tank for the puffers to bite on. This helps keep their teeth trimmed up. Snails can't live in the water because of the salt. I have had mine for about 19 months so far and no problem as of yet.
 
It would be extremly rare that a puffers teeth over grow it's mouth to the point where the can't eat
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It all depends on the species, Colomesus asellus (South American puffers) have the fastest tooth growth of all the puffers, and even with a steady diet of snails and other crunchy foods teeth trimming may still be necessary every 6 months or so. Auriglobus modestus are another species that require occasional trimming, but the bulk of puffers should not need to be trimmed if they have crunchy foods in their diet.
A puffer with overgrown to the point that they can no longer eat may well starve to death over the course of a few weeks, but the overgrowth is so pronounced that you would notice it long before it got to the point of affecting their eating.

Here is one of my pics showing severe overgrowth on one of my C.asellus, and normal growth on the other one.
Colomesus_Pair.sized.jpg
 
Hiya Pufferpak, welcome to MFK, loks like smiley puffers are not a good thing. The only one I had was a biocellatus years ago that was a murderous little bastard I promptly traded off.
 
Hiya Pufferpak, welcome to MFK, loks like smiley puffers are not a good thing. The only one I had was a biocellatus years ago that was a murderous little bastard I promptly traded off.
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Thanks for the welcome. Most of our puffers are viscous little sods who kill off their tankmates eventually (including their mates :swear: ) even the C. asellus, who in general are usually only fin nippers, will actively hunt any fry or tiny fish that I have tried to keep with them....they seem to get on with Skunk botia pretty well....but the Botias are little knobs in their own right. :ROFL:
 
I was also looking for tankmates for a figure 8 puffer in a similar sized aquarium, even though they are said to be on the peaceful side of puffers I haven't had any luck yet, I wonder if the other figure 8 in the tank with him had anything to do with it? they seem to be constantly on the lookout for something to wear their teeth down on, even each other! let me know what you try and how it works out so I can get some ideas!
 
bumble bee gobies and orange chromides are the only fish that will get along with a puffer without risk other fish might get along with some fig 8 puffers but puffers are very unpredictable and with other fish you have a bigger chance of the puffer riping the tankmates head of than them geting along nicley. so i would go with eithor the bbg's or the chromides mabe doth depending on your tank size.
 
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