Puffer Teeth Need Trimming

[DiscusKeeper403]

Well, i'm not sure how to do it. I've been feeding it mostly shelled foods for a few days, but with not much of an improvement. He can still eat, but they just look a little big. Any ideas?

 

[roseK]

have u been giving him snails?

 

[syntax_error]

You should give puffers on a regular basis.
What type of puffer is this? Why I asked is, as far as I know you do not need to trim the teeth of puffers such as dwarf puffers.
If it is an SAP (South American Puffer) you will eventually have to trim its teeth. Here is a good guide on puffer dentistry.

 

[jayjay]

What type of puffer is it?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

It's a figure 8. I haven't given him any snails in a while. Didn't even think of that.

 

[pandacichlid]

yeah, what puffer is this? http/www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/s...erdentistry.htm exactly what you need to know about clipping amazon puffers teeth.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Well, I don't feel that I need to clip his teeth at the moment, I mean he can still eat fine and everything. I'll try to get some snails asap. If I see that his teeth are enabling him from eating, thats when I will take extreme measures, and clip them.

 

[Maximus]

Alot of people have had success with placing a flat piece of slate in the tank,
To use as a "feeding platform". Put the puffers food on there and it will grind it's teeth when It
picks up the food

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Alot of people have had success with placing a flat piece of slate in the tank,
To use as a "feeding platform". Put the puffers food on there and it will grind it's teeth when It
picks up the food

Hmmm... Okay I do have a piece of slate in the tank at the moment. I just gave him a little food, and he didn't take it Maybe it is time to trim them up...

 

[pandacichlid]

hard shelled food helps, like snails, krill, muscles and frozen foods.
yeah, the hard surface would help his teeth I'd say, you added other shells in there too?
amazon's apparently they have the fastest growing teeth of puffers Tetraodon biocellatus are pretty much the same size, but I'm sure it'll be the same process in trimming their teeth?


more snails the better, try breeding snails so you have enough all the time.
if he can still eat then it's not emergency, but you're doing the right thing.
good luck

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Thanks. This really is my Dads fish, as i'm never here. (It takes 6 hours by plane to get to my Dads ) I think I will do it for him, since he doesn't know much about fish keeping, and he would have a hard time doing it himself.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Quick question, I assume it's okay, but this can be done with normal nail clippers right? I heard when a Puffer is out of water he starts to inflate, correct? Will it happen when I take him out of the clove solution to cut his teeth?

Thanks.

 

[pandacichlid]

It will be my first time in doing the teeth, so don't worry about it just read the link and see if you can find more information from other places

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

It will be my first time in doing the teeth, so don't worry about it just read the link and see if you can find more information from other places

Okay, i'll try to see if I can find some more information elsewhere, but in the mean time, anyone know if normal nail clippers are fine?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Anyone? On the link pandacichlid gave me, it said to use cutical clippers... Will I need to buy some, or will the nail clippers work?