The Puffer Forum

Hello,

I am the lucky owner of 4 SAP that are doing quite amazing in my 350L aquarium. (First time Puffer owner)

3 of my puffers are doing fine, I can see some teeth but not something I've noticed that they are suffering from. (I already have the clipper, sedation and everything else if that is ever needed, I knew that would be something I might have to do before I bought them)

They are about 6 months in my care now and they are still learning how to eat some foods I give them. (I started with frozen bloodworms) and I got them now to eat snails and frozen clampmeat (Last one took me a while). I am still in the process of them learning to eat frozen shrimp and other hardy meats to even make the dental issue a lesser thing. (Tips are more then welcome!)

One of them however had a bit longer teeth then the others (When I bought them) so I was watching him closely and now at sudden (in a few days) it looks like the poor guy has blackbeard algae on his teeth. (I am not even sure if that is possible but it looks like it).

Has anyone seen this before?Does anyone know how to treat this? or should I just try to clip his little teeth?

I've attached 2 pictures of what I mean with the algae.

They need trimming

Ok, will do!

I just wonder if its normal that algea forms on their teeth or if I am doing something wrong?

looks like he bit into some algae & can't get it off his teeth.

I trimmed the teeth as good as I could. I had a lot of difficulties because of the algae completely concealed the teeth and I really didn't wanted to hurt the fish.

But I think I got 90% off on 1 puffer and nearly everything on the 2nd. (The 2nd one started to have it) Their teeth weren't actually as long as I thought they would when I could have a better look at it when they were sedated.

What do you think I can do best now to remove the last bit of algae on their teeth? Use algaecide in the water?

Can you not remove it with tweezers?

No, its literally stuck on the teeth. I thought I could just push it aside with the clipper but nope, its actually stuck on their teeth.

And the algae all "clumps up" when they are out of water not not "fluffy" anymore so that made it extra hard.

I don't think it will stop them eating. Especially since I could clip some of the teeth. But they were really not that long.
This one I cut around 1/2 shorter. (First time cutting for me so didn't wanted to cut too short!)

I think they'll be fine

Finally got some decent pictures of the puffers with their algae on their teeth after the trimming.

This is what I mean with the algae on their teeth (still) its less bushy now and they eat perfectly fine. But it is hard to trim them and it is actually on their teeth and not stuk or so.

I am still wondering what I could do to help them get rid of them.

(The tank is a bit dirty since I replanted/redesigned my tank a couple of days before and I always leave the tank as much to rest as I can after since the fish are already stressed enough by the new decor)

I really am at a loss here. Why can't you pull it off with tweezers?