Its that age old problem on the puffers! Ive got a collomesus puffer Colin, hes been looking a bit skinny lately. But im 16 weeks pregnant and in the middle of a house move, so to be fair he hasnt had the attention he would for the past few days. I had a good look at him last night and noticed why he was so skinny, its the poor little fellas teeth. He looks like goofy!!!! He lives with snails, but just doesnt like them. Previously, ive tried all sorts of hard foods but he just doesnt like it so i always knew it could be a problem and just thought i would keep an eye on it to see how we go.
So ive done all the reading up, and i just dont think im confident enough to do it myself. Ive rung vet after vet after vet, and i now have the number of one that may do it. But they are a 45 minute drive away (assuming we dont get stuck in traffic) and i think that may stress poor colin out more then the actual procedure.
Its looking like im going to have to be a big brave girl and do it myself.
So has anyone got any tips or hints? Colin is still quite small so i know its not going to be all that easy to do.
Trimming teeth
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
-
Pufferpunk
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Re: Trimming teeth
I pertty much put everything I can think of in that article. Is there anything you don't understand?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Little Vik
- Puffer Fry
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Re: Trimming teeth
The article is awesome, and very helpful. Its just being totally honest, im a wuss!!!!
-
cuteyiddlepuff
- Dwarf Puffer
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29 Gallon-My GSP
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5 Gallon-Betta - Location: Turnersville, NJ
Re: Trimming teeth
I just did my first trim the other day without anesthesia, it went better than I anticipated. I knew I couldn't risk using clove oil because it is associated with brain damage, finquil (I think this may be the correct spelling) carries a heavier risk of overdose. I ordered Finquil yesterday so I will be using that for now on. I'm hoping the directions are precise to avoid any possibilities. I used gloves because the acid from our hands harm them. I attached a hang on plastic container on his tank so I could just put him in the container under water and clip it on. Do not take your Puffer out of the water. I think my Puffer is scared of me now but at least he can eat.
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
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T miurus
A modestus
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C valentini
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C papuan
C lorteti
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suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Trimming teeth
Clove oil is fine in a pinch, as long as you don't use it too frequently or on a weak/starving fish. Glad it went well for you.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
CtHM
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:23 am
- My Puffers: 2 beautiful SAP's, and 1 female DP.
- Location: Meridian, ID, USA
Re: Trimming teeth
How much does clove oil usually go for?
"Little fishies go 'pook pook pook' "
~Lenore
~Lenore
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
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DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Trimming teeth
I don't remember for sure but I'd guess around $5-7.
Edit: http://www.shop.com/+-a-red+cross+eugen ... 6-st.shtml
Edit: http://www.shop.com/+-a-red+cross+eugen ... 6-st.shtml
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
Agnate
- Former Staff Member
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(Captain Abe) - Location: Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Trimming teeth
My little bottle was about $6, and it's a pretty tiny bottle (more like a vial).
Did our staff successfully help you? The Puffer Forum is an incredible resource and is run completely on the donations of its viewers. Proceeds from the Puffer Forum store go towards future contests and keeping the site running. Donations may also be made via PayPal.
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Trimming teeth
Yeah, that's what it comes in. You don't need much. Anyone ever actuallly use if for a toothache?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
Agnate
- Former Staff Member
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- Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:44 pm
- My Puffers: -
1 Abei Puffer [Monotrete Abei]
(Captain Abe) - Location: Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Trimming teeth
Haven't really had a toothache, unless you count having braces. 
Did our staff successfully help you? The Puffer Forum is an incredible resource and is run completely on the donations of its viewers. Proceeds from the Puffer Forum store go towards future contests and keeping the site running. Donations may also be made via PayPal.
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
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FISH ROOM PLUS
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Re: Trimming teeth
temporary dental fillings have clove oil, you can taste it 
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Katlynran
Re: Trimming teeth
I did it! I trimmed my SAP's beak. I was really scared, but I did it., not as short as I wanted, but for a first try, the best I could do. Now here's to hoping he is OK. My daughter was heartbroken to imagine him starving to death.
Thanks for the article!
Thanks for the article!
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Agnate
- Former Staff Member
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- My Puffers: -
1 Abei Puffer [Monotrete Abei]
(Captain Abe) - Location: Ontario, Canada
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Re: Trimming teeth
Glad to hear it went well!
To be honest, it's best to err on the side of "not trimming quite enough" than to trim it too much, haha!
To be honest, it's best to err on the side of "not trimming quite enough" than to trim it too much, haha!
Did our staff successfully help you? The Puffer Forum is an incredible resource and is run completely on the donations of its viewers. Proceeds from the Puffer Forum store go towards future contests and keeping the site running. Donations may also be made via PayPal.
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Trimming teeth
Yeah, puffers don't like their lips pinched!
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
apachepufferman
- Green Spotted Puffer
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1 sap and thats just the puffers!!! So i'm a little fish crazy - Location: boise id
Re: Trimming teeth
my finquil should be here tuesday. So I'm next in line for trimming i believe.
Finquil was a lot more expensive than the clove oil. It better last me a loooong time.
Finquil was a lot more expensive than the clove oil. It better last me a loooong time.
adam