The Puffer Forum

No, I've only used CO & lost a small starving SAP because it didn't revive properly. I still think it's OK to use on a healthy fish a few times w/o harm.

A few times? Does it have long-term effects?

I'm not sure how many times after folks said their puffers started acting goofy. Try doing a search here.

Myaj suggested:

"Next time though, order yourself some Finquil, Tranquil or one of the other brands of MS-222 (http://www.drsfostersmith.com carries Finquil). Its a fish tranquilzer that seems much less stressful than clove oil, also much less risky. Some of us have been noticing our puffers seem to wake up from clove oil slower and slower each time."

Maybe I should PM him?

Myaj is a her, like me. I don't think she's ever used it on her puffers. I think it was Boxermom that 1st noticed a difference in her puffer's behaviour after repeated dosing for trimming.

Sorry, I can't tell if anybody's a dude or a chick on this forum. At least I'm not a "puffer fry" anymore ...Well, I don't want my fish to be permanently damaged, so I might order some of that stuff that SHE mentioned.

Did you review the dentistry article in our Library? I guess I'll have to add MS-222 to that.

I had my Modestus in a Planted 20glong for about 8months. He seemed to be fine at 3". I recently moved him to 1/2 of a 75g. It has the same amount of floor space but alot more water for polution dilution. He is a very active puffer and I found that with lots of plants or decor he seems pretty happy.

I feed mine bloodworms, snails, shrimp, mussels and occasionally krill.

I do a 60% water change every week.

I am also doing some dentistry soon and will use clove oil. I have had success with it in the past.

Here's what his new tank looks like.

Nice tank! Where's the puffer?

I STILL am not convinced that a Modestus would do well in a 20G. Maybe because yours was a smaller specimen, or something. It's nice that you have moved him into a slightly larger tank portion. As seen in my signature, I'm moving all my fish into a 100G in a couple days. Thank you for sharing your experience, as not that many people own this type of puffer, and hope he's doing well!

I haven't tried Finquil or Tranquil yet, they are on my "need to order" list. At the moment, I don't have any puffers that need teeth trimmings.. although Frank might need it, I've been watching and not sure yet.

I had a SAP that needed very frequent trimming, every 2-3 months. Every time I used clove oil, it took him longer and longer to wake up, even though I was using less and less oil. One day he didn't wake up.

Boxermom noticed her fish that had been exposed to clove oil repeated times were starting to act strange, almost retarded. Others have shown the same concerns, fish not waking up well or at all, different behavior. Clove oil is easier to find and doesn't seem to harm the fish if you only use it a few times, but we're starting to think it might have long term effects if used repeatedly.

This will be the 1st time trimming this modestus' teeth, so I hope 1 time using CO will be safe. I will be sure to order the other stuff next DFS order.

I didn't see any problems until about the 3rd time using it, and that was just that it took longer for my SAP to wake up. Also keep in mind, my SAP was an extremely stunted one that was probably overly sensitive to sedation.

I would think in a fully healthy fish, one does wouldn't have any lasting effects.

I don't know because my modestus has been acting a little weird since I cut his teeth. He sometimes just kinda hovers at the top with his dorsal fin flopping above the water. I know that this seems like regualar puffer beahavior, but it is not. He seems to be more active at night, and he is nowhere near dying, he's still fine. He's just been acting a little weird. Hopefully, the tank change tommorrow will help And any suggestions on where to buy or order Finquil or whatever that other stuff is? Thanks!

The Doc's

http://www.drsfostersmith.com I think they carry the brand Finquil