Will my Fiji puffer be nice to a star?

[FishRFrndsNotFd]

Or do you think he will eat stars like he likes to eat blue-legged hermit crabs??

Thanks!

[TCTFish]

He will eat the stars like he likes to eat blue legged hermit crabs and red legged hermit crabs and actually any color legged hermit crab...lol. I don't think there's a single invert out there safe from a puffer including snails.

[FishRFrndsNotFd]

I have gotten lucky with the smaller crabs...they are quick to go into their shells and then puffer just swims away. I lost two blue leg crabs, I think, because they were big and maybe not as cautious as the smaller crabs....BAD puffer!

[TCTFish]

The smaller ones may be hard to see move. Puffers are triggered by movement just as any other predator. Those teeth will crush just about any shell big or small. **** puffers...LOL. A great treat for any fish with teeth like that is cockle in the shell. It's a type of musscle or clam. They love it and allows them to use their teeth for what they were meant for. For the most part, I say it's just luck that the others haven't been preyed upon...yet.

[FishRFrndsNotFd]

I haven't yet seen him nip at their shells or anything...I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

where might I find cockle in the shell? gee, maybe I don't want to teach him how to find yummy food-in-the-shell?

[TCTFish]

A LFS should have it or be able to order it for you. I'm trying to remember the company name. Gamma Foods. I believe that's it.

gee, maybe I don't want to teach him how to find yummy food-in-the-shell?

That may not matter. He's a saltwater fish straight from the ocean. Not like he's captive bred. He already knows there can be yummies in a shell...LOL. There is cockle without the shell if you prefer. They do love it. It provides proteins I'm sure they can't get from fish, shrimp, and pellets. Adds a nice variety to their diet.

[FishRFrndsNotFd]

I will look for that, thanks.