As I've been off the forum for a while, I was wondering what the currently accepted best practice for teeth trimming is?
My GSP -- now about 5 years old and in a FOWLR marine tank, is in fairly dire need of teeth trimming.
The previously accepted method was to use a small amount of clove oil and cuticle trimmers. However, I remember reading of several people losing their puffers, having them not wake up from anaesthesia.
Maybe I should have 2 containers with clove oil -- one with 1 drop, and one with 2. and move him progressively?
Any advice much appreciated.
current best practice for teeth trimming
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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: current best practice for teeth trimming
I believe the denitistry article has been updated, listing Finquel/MS222 as a more safe & reliable tranq for this procedure. That's all I use now.
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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PetPirate
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Re: current best practice for teeth trimming
Thanks PP.
I'll have to pick up some next time I'm back in the West -- unfortunately I can't track down MS-222 here. I'm fairly confident in getting clove oil, but it's still a bit hit and miss as I'm not sure of the translation into Chinese.
I think I'll prepare 2 or 3 tranquiliser containers -- one with 1 drop, one with 2 drops... and move him proressively until he becomes anaesthetised.
Gonna be nail-biting
The puffer in question has had a super-thin tummy for a while now. Seems to be active, but can't swallow. His teeth are fairly big (not tusks or anything), but they seem to be locked/fused.
Wish me luck!
I'll have to pick up some next time I'm back in the West -- unfortunately I can't track down MS-222 here. I'm fairly confident in getting clove oil, but it's still a bit hit and miss as I'm not sure of the translation into Chinese.
I think I'll prepare 2 or 3 tranquiliser containers -- one with 1 drop, one with 2 drops... and move him proressively until he becomes anaesthetised.
Gonna be nail-biting
The puffer in question has had a super-thin tummy for a while now. Seems to be active, but can't swallow. His teeth are fairly big (not tusks or anything), but they seem to be locked/fused.
Wish me luck!
-
LilGreenPuffer
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Re: current best practice for teeth trimming
LUCK!
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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Pufferpunk
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Re: current best practice for teeth trimming
I don't care how many times I do the procedure, my heart stops until the fish is up & swimming again!
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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fificharlie84
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Re: current best practice for teeth trimming
Hi,
Ive just picked up some MS-222 online in the UK to undertake the first teeth trimming of my two SAP's.
I have read the library article and although nervous I'm confident how to do the trimming, what I am unclear on is what amount of the solution I should ad to the bowl in order to safely put them under, also would you recommend doing them one at a time?
Many Thanks
Ive just picked up some MS-222 online in the UK to undertake the first teeth trimming of my two SAP's.
I have read the library article and although nervous I'm confident how to do the trimming, what I am unclear on is what amount of the solution I should ad to the bowl in order to safely put them under, also would you recommend doing them one at a time?
Many Thanks
-
Pufferpunk
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T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
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C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: current best practice for teeth trimming
Please post that online link for everyone else in the UK! Unfortunately, PetP is in China (although I think he's moved). I have Salifert test kits that come with a tiny blue spoon & I use 1 scoop/2-3 cups of water.
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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doraemon
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Re: current best practice for teeth trimming
I have 2 water water pugs that own me!!
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fificharlie84
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Re: current best practice for teeth trimming
Hi,
The link is the same as in the post above - Pharmaq
I also got a blue spoon, it's says the measurment to full is 2.5ml is this the same as yours?
Also what size cups are you using, or better still how many ml would you say 2-3 cups is?
The link is the same as in the post above - Pharmaq
I also got a blue spoon, it's says the measurment to full is 2.5ml is this the same as yours?
Also what size cups are you using, or better still how many ml would you say 2-3 cups is?
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bigfatfish
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- Location: Devon, UK
Re: current best practice for teeth trimming
I think it must now be available without a prescription, which is good news. Possibly changed from POM-V (need a prescription) to POM -VPS, which means you can get it from a vet, the pharmacy or a suitably qualified person - as long as they are satisfied with the reasons you are using it & that you are capable of using it properly.
The dose rate for tropical fish is 30-50mg/lit. So, the lowest dose is 0.03g/lit & the highest is 0.05g/lit. I said before that it is a tiny amount! Obviously you could start with a larger volume of water, but the amount is still tiny & difficult to measure. You can buy scales that will measure such tiny amounts - I have them where I work.
The dose rate for tropical fish is 30-50mg/lit. So, the lowest dose is 0.03g/lit & the highest is 0.05g/lit. I said before that it is a tiny amount! Obviously you could start with a larger volume of water, but the amount is still tiny & difficult to measure. You can buy scales that will measure such tiny amounts - I have them where I work.
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bigfatfish
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Re: current best practice for teeth trimming
Or if you know a friendly, local drug dealer?!..bigfatfish wrote:I think it must now be available without a prescription, which is good news. Possibly changed from POM-V (need a prescription) to POM -VPS, which means you can get it from a vet, the pharmacy or a suitably qualified person - as long as they are satisfied with the reasons you are using it & that you are capable of using it properly.
The dose rate for tropical fish is 30-50mg/lit. So, the lowest dose is 0.03g/lit & the highest is 0.05g/lit. I said before that it is a tiny amount! Obviously you could start with a larger volume of water, but the amount is still tiny & difficult to measure. You can buy scales that will measure such tiny amounts - I have them where I work.
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robert_hollis
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Re: current best practice for teeth trimming
In the U.S., Mexico and Canada you can order MS-222 directly from Argent Labs. Their website says they're the only manufacturer of it in the U.S., and I've found their price to be cheaper than everyone else as well. I dunno if they'll ship outside the Americas, but isn't that what internet friends are for?
-Rob
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You read it! You can't unread it!
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Pufferpunk
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T miurus
A modestus
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C valentini
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C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: current best practice for teeth trimming
You are welcome to do all your conversions here:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/calc.php
I'm not exactly sure how many gms are in the lil blue spoon but I believe it takes 5 of them to make 1/4 tsp. Sorry if I'm not much help...
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/calc.php
I'm not exactly sure how many gms are in the lil blue spoon but I believe it takes 5 of them to make 1/4 tsp. Sorry if I'm not much help...
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!"