New SA puff ate plants but not food?!

[creampuff]

I just recently acquired a SA puff, about 4 days ago. It had overgrown teeth and those were trimmed about 3 days ago. Since its arrival it has not eaten. Initially,I attributed it to it adapting to its tank (a quarantine one) so wasn't too concerned.

However, yesterday it poo-ed, and I noticed that it poo-ed green matter, the exact same colour as some of the plants in the tank. So it meant that it did eat the plants. If it's "eating", any idea why it is not responding to ANY of the foods?

I've tried snail (crushed and uncrushed), bloodworms, ghost shrimp (both dead and alive). I know most posts say that blackworms are irresistible but they're simply not available over here. Any ideas? Thanks peeps!

By the way, it's swimming around pretty normally. It currently "lives" with a ghost shrimp in the tank, but it does look as if its making friends with it, rather than regarding it as food.

[Cindy]

How did you manage to trim its teeth? What's the anaethesia you used?

[creampuff]

How did you manage to trim its teeth? What's the anaethesia you used?

Clove oil. Check out pufferpunk's post under hospital. The one on dentistry. Pretty much followed the instructions. But of course, there were little hiccups. Hopefully the next time will be more smooth-sailing.

[Pufferpunk]

Maybe it saw a snail on the plants?

[RTR]

Many of my puffers have taken bites out of plants when they hit a snail.

[creampuff]

Possibly.. hmm. But it's not eating any of the snails I put in, crushed or uncrushed. Weird... but thanks!

[creampuff]

Well, it has gone 4-5 days without food I think. Except the bit of plant it ate.... any ideas? The only thing I haven't tried is garlic juice. Those with SA puffs, what are good introductory foods?

[Pufferpunk]

Mine loves live blackworms. Even try live brine shrimp, as a last resort (not very nutricious). Maybe teeth weren't trimmed short enough? How long did it take to wake up after the tranq? Is it acting normally otherwise--zipping aound tank?

[creampuff]

Mine loves live blackworms. Even try live brine shrimp, as a last resort (not very nutricious). Maybe teeth weren't trimmed short enough? How long did it take to wake up after the tranq? Is it acting normally otherwise--zipping aound tank?

It woke up really quickly. Probably less than 3 minutes it was swimming around. Yup, it doesn't seem to be acting abnormal. It is swimming around the tank, I won't say "zipping" but moving around alright. It does appear to be "shivering" sometimes though. Like very small jerky movements once in awhile. I don't know if this is normal cos my other two puffs don't do that. But most of the time it is normal. I don't have access to blackworms here.

And... oh man. I sure hope it isn't the teeth. I don't want to have to trim them AGAIN. I thought I cut them quite short... though I couldn't really see. It was too small.

[creampuff]

Brine shrimp didn't work.
I'm going to try vitaminizing the water this evening after the lights are out. It's not swimming about very much I realised. It hovers more than it swims. I think its stressed.... Water parameters are all normal. I checked....

[Cindy]

Where did you managed to buy clove oil?

[creampuff]

Pharmacy. Just ask for clove oil. They have it in little bottles.

It's still not eating. Day 7. I'm getting worried.

[Cindy]

I went to a Guardian Pharmacy and asked for clove oil before. But they didn't know what it is. Which one did you buy it from? Please...

Sorry to sound so bothersome but one my ceylon is showing signs of overgrown teeth.

[Pufferpunk]

See the Dentistry article? Look in the toothache section for that. Try a health food store too.

[creampuff]

I went to a Guardian Pharmacy and asked for clove oil before. But they didn't know what it is. Which one did you buy it from? Please...

Sorry to sound so bothersome but one my ceylon is showing signs of overgrown teeth.

I went to the NTUC one at clementi. Tell them it's used for toothaches.. it's a small bottle in a green box.