Hello all,
Need advise on what is the most appropriate tool for trimming the teeth of a medium sized fahaka, about 10" inclusive tail.
Guess i am looking at one that can do the job both quickly and cleanly.
Thanks in Advance.
John
Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
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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.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
You could try sharp wire cutters or a Dremmel tool. I'd get another pair of hands to hold him. Be sure to pull back his lip, so you don't cut it off. I highly suggest you get something to tranquilize that fish. I'm not sure what's available to you, in your country.
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!"
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Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
Hi thanks i will check them out. I am able to get ms222 or Transmore . Both are used commonly in the fish trade here . Clove oil will be last choice .
I have another pair of hands to help me. I am a bit nervous about the wire cutters , not sure if they will crack the the teeth ( which I presume are relatively hard and strong for a fish this size ? I thnk I'm more confident of Dremmel tool . Will update
I have another pair of hands to help me. I am a bit nervous about the wire cutters , not sure if they will crack the the teeth ( which I presume are relatively hard and strong for a fish this size ? I thnk I'm more confident of Dremmel tool . Will update
Last edited by LSZ on Wed Jan 25, 2012 3:39 am, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
methylquinoline is the active ingredient in Transmore
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
Yes, either are safe for your fish. Be sure to dose according to the directions & have a bucket of tank water for recovery of the fish. Their teeth are more like a fingernail than like ours. Use the sharp tip of the cutters & be sure to sharpen them 1st.
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!"
Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drUCDs4UG_M
my fahaka is slightly smaller than the mbu in this video, and its teeth situation is only a little better than.
THey used 2 containers of water, one with the actual dose and one with a lower dose, and i see him putting the mbu back into the baths several times. is it because the fish has woken up halfway ?
About waking up the fish, what is the differnce between letting it recover in a bucket vs in its own tank ?
my fahaka is slightly smaller than the mbu in this video, and its teeth situation is only a little better than.
THey used 2 containers of water, one with the actual dose and one with a lower dose, and i see him putting the mbu back into the baths several times. is it because the fish has woken up halfway ?
About waking up the fish, what is the differnce between letting it recover in a bucket vs in its own tank ?
Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
I wouldn't use a lower dose, stick with the full dose. You have to keep putting them back in the water as that's how they breath. If you kept them out then they would suffocate. When waking a fish back up I've always put them in a net in the tank with increased oxygenation (I lower the water so there is more surface agitation). I wouldn't want to have to move the fish once it has woken back up.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
Absolutely use a separate bucket, until he has woken up fully. I do not see the purpose of re-tranquilizing a fish, if it was done properly in the 1st place.
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!"
Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
how long will the tranquilization last ? i.e how much time do i have to work on the teeth ?
must i drip water on the fish continuously ?
must i drip water on the fish continuously ?
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
A long time. You can do major surgery or even ship a fish in this state. This is why I don't get the continuous dipping into the 1/2 dose. Also, NEVER hold the fish with your bare hands! it removes the slime coat leaving it open to severe infection. Always use a net. If done right, the slipping should take less than 5 minutes (not the long time those guys are taking in that vid). See how much he missed by not pulling the lips back the 1st time? I don't think that is the correct tool he's using at all.
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!"
Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
Hey thanks
I really appreciate the knowledge and experience here .
Perhaps I'll upload some close ups, and u guys can confirm the right tool to use .a strong wire cutter does seem to be the quickest to use. So if I can go ahead with that without fear of fracturing / cracking anything I'm open. It's my first time and also not on a small puffer so I want to be very sure before I start .
I really appreciate the knowledge and experience here .
Perhaps I'll upload some close ups, and u guys can confirm the right tool to use .a strong wire cutter does seem to be the quickest to use. So if I can go ahead with that without fear of fracturing / cracking anything I'm open. It's my first time and also not on a small puffer so I want to be very sure before I start .
Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
One more question, how is the structure of the puffer's teeth like ?
Is it like a dog's nails where there is a soft core ? I mean even for human teeth we have a soft core .
Or is it solid piece of fingernail material ( like a rhino's horn) and I do not have to worry about cutting into a soft core / pulp that contains nerves and is a lot of pain ?
Is it like a dog's nails where there is a soft core ? I mean even for human teeth we have a soft core .
Or is it solid piece of fingernail material ( like a rhino's horn) and I do not have to worry about cutting into a soft core / pulp that contains nerves and is a lot of pain ?
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Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
definitely don't do it like that video, if you read the comments, he died 2 days after this operation.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
OMG, I missed that! He looked so healthy. 
It's just like cutting a fingernail.
It's just like cutting a fingernail.
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!"
Re: Need advise on tool for trimming Fahaka teeth, about 10"
Wtf, he died? Ya, great "how to" video.