Are Snails Living With My Figure 8 Puffer?

[@beth-rg8bm]

Mr. Bean is soooo cute!

[@don-ent8272]

It could be butter bean. I saw my figure 8 puffer making holes in the java ferns and spitting it out. Seems like it enjoys pecking on things.

[@patriciakloeppel9863]

this is a job for Sherlock holms how puzzeling

[@matharris100]

That’s butterbean mouth size matches a treat ...

[@xjd8375]

Hi ButterBean! I missed you!!! 😎☝🏻

[@Zooeybabe]

we think it's your puffer doing that.

[@Shaden0040]

Dan Java fern propigates in two ways, one is by the rhyzome the other is from baby plants growing from the leaves in the exact places the holes are appearing. Whatever is causing the damage, is eating the special areas of the java fern leaves that sprout new baby plants. When a java fern gets injured it starts producing the baby plants, from those areas, which first turn brown and are oval shaped. It is possible it is the brackish water is damaging the java fern, but preventing them from forming baby plants. It is almost like the ferns form spore spots on the leaves to grow the babies from. Some how either something is eating them or the brackish water is disrupting the baby plants from forming and causing those areas to get popped out of the leaf, which does eventually happen once the baby plants get established enough to break off and float down stream to lodge in a new spot to take hold and grow into a mature plant.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

I don't know, but it's an idea. I'll keep an eye on it.

[@HKLuterman]

I could have sworn, while researching brackish plants, that I came across a thread somewhere (maybe fishlore) that said someone's f8 puffer nipped holes in their plants while snail hunting. I mean it's possible, with their beaks being little cookie cutters and the fact that the punched bits of plants are then spat out, right?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

It would explain it. I'll definitely keep an eye out for that. thanks.

[@stevesmith1894]

Molly's maybe

[@theresatorgerson4391]

have you ever needed to trim his teeth at all? And I think the holes are from Bean. Seems like its the same size of his mouth. Hope you figure what's going on with the ferns. OR... or Bean sees a snail on the leaf and he attacks it and takes a chunk out of the leaf while eating the snail on the leaf?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

No, as long as "he" gets snails on a regular basis, I've never had any issues with the teth. You're not the only one that thinks the holes are from him either. Lol

[@LittleWitchsGarden]

My fig 8 chewed on his java fern and caused holes like that. He eventually killed it. But he seems to leave his other plants alone.

[@beth-rg8bm]

He looks a little faded today!

[@Shaden0040]

I was thinkning he loos a little fatter today. I think his coloring looking faded is due to the new LED light on this tank.

[@Possumcods]

If you notice how all the holes are in between the plants vain and outer edge of the leaf.This is where Java ferns propagate. In fresh water there will be one little dark brown to black colored bump where a new plant will form. It will start to grow roots and leafs from this colored bump and once it gets so big it will fall off the mother plant. Since you have it in a brackish water and not true fresh water, that could keep the baby plants from forming. Butterbean would never leave a snail behind. Anyhow great video as always.

[@fishboy9715]

may be a mineral deficiency but could it not be butterbean striking at something on the leaf thats punching these holes out?

[@muwuny]

I have thousands of snails in my puffer tank, they breed quicker than she can eat them.

[@yackemflaber84]

I'm not saying you should do it I'm just wondering. What if you put another puffer in there would they get along?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

I've always wondered, but have never wanted to take the chance of upsetting Butterbean.

[@OrganisedConfusion101]

I'm raising a figure 8 puffer fish and he bites holes in my plants trying to eat the ghost shrimp living in the tank . But the more snails I put in the less he goes for the shrimp. Check out my figure 8 puffer Picky .

[@DarthVader-gz8gb]

It’s a phosphate deficiency I had holes like that and then added phosphate and it disappeared

[@jeromes6058]

That may be a lack of phosphate

[@lauracorrigan9604]

Lol 😂 I was just thinking to myself there before you said it about the females. If you added 4 would be great. Don't think 🤔 it would cause that much chaos although who knows

[@natalieharoldsen3494]

Very interesting. I wonder if the new lighting has made the Java fern try to grow faster than in the past. And maybe it just needs more nutrients to complete new growth stage. I agree that Butterbean’s skillz outmatch any snail. I hope you can solve the mystery, your Java ferns have always been so lush til now.

[@lamarchristopher881]

hey hey butter bean

[@cjandauntieyaya1446]

I'm thinking Butterbean is doing it. His mouth shape would be perfect for sucking in a leaf and hole punch it. He then realizes it's a veggie and he spits it out. Maybe he's missing some specific vitamin that he sense the veggie contains but he just can't handle the taste. do an experiment and add a broccoli, beet and cabbage leaf into the tank and see if they get hole punched.

[@marciesocal7553]

Potassium deficiency?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Maybe, but I don't think so.