Cockles for my puffer

[chevegan]

I recently got a 6" Dog face puffer. I've read everywhere that you need to feed them things that will keep their teeth down so I special ordered some cockles. He won't even LOOK at them. The clown trigger (same size) goes right up to it and nips at it, though he can't open it. Even after I manually opened up the cockle only the trigger went up to it and tore it to shreds. How the heck am I supposed to keep his teeth down if he won't eat what he's supposed to?

What do you all do?

As a staple I feed them freez dried krill. Every couple days shrimp with shell on. And now cockles.

BTW the cockles are fresh and alive. Though I will be freezing them tonight.

[justinl]

if the puffers teeth get overgrown he won't be able to get food in there. but you know that. so what if he doesnt eat cockles? well, you'll have to try other stuff like hermit and snails.

if that fails and the teeth are really starting to get too big, you'll have to sedate the fish and play dentist with a dremel.

[chevegan]

He eats the krill just fine. It's not like his teeth are already meeting. I just don't want it to get to that :(

[Titan*69]

You can get a faux coral skeleton with hollow branches. Stuff some food inside, leaving just a little sticking out've the hole. Your puffer will work it's teeth in attempt to get at the food; hopefully wearing them down.

[cougarguy]

My puffer actually chews at the rocks all day long trying to get pods. but I do feed him longnneck clams and have had him for going on a year next month and haven't had to play dentist yet.

[moogoomoogoo]

I think the teeth issue only applies to certain puffers. I don't know which ones.

[marcrunner]

i feed snow crab. probably not the most nutritious, but he loves it

[ledford1]

When I feed the tank I feed thawed food for everyoe else, but toss in straight-from-the-freezer food just for my Dogface's teeth.

While it may help, that alone isn't enough to wear down his teeth. He'll wear them down himself. Like mentioned above, he'll chew on LR to grind them down when he think's they're getting a little long for his liking. They're smart fish.