The Puffer Forum

How do you trim without any anesthetic? I was thinking of trim the teeth underwater to avoid problems. But if the fish puff up underwater while I'm trimming? Is it safe to trim without any anesthetic?

I'm getting worried..

They didn't puff when you tried to do it with no anesthetic? Every puffer I've had to trim so far was so small I'd never be able to hold them still...

I'm one of the people who had a bad experience with Clove oil. I had a SAP and even with a daily diet of snails, he needed his teeth trimmed every few months.

Every single time, I'd use a lower dosage (originally started out with the 3 drops in a cool whip container of water), and he'd take longer and longer to wake up. The final time, he just didn't wake up. I do believe it did harm to his system over time.


One tip that was given to me that a lot of Clove Oil users don't know.. most of us tend to set aside a container just for dentistry work, because once you get clove oil on something, the smell/flavor lingers. Well, this is because the oil is still on the container, especially something porous like plastic. So if you use the same container, even after a washing, you might be giving your puffer a larger dose than you intended. So its only recommended to use glass, and not plastic, containers for dosing your fish, and to wash them extremely well until all smell is gone afterwords (then of course rinse really well so all soap is gone).

I always toss it out. Got plenty more Coolwhip containers.

Myaj wrote: One tip that was given to me that a lot of Clove Oil users don't know.. most of us tend to set aside a container just for dentistry work, because once you get clove oil on something, the smell/flavor lingers. Well, this is because the oil is still on the container, especially something porous like plastic. So if you use the same container, even after a washing, you might be giving your puffer a larger dose than you intended. So its only recommended to use glass, and not plastic, containers for dosing your fish, and to wash them extremely well until all smell is gone afterwords (then of course rinse really well so all soap is gone).

Ah!!!! Do you know, I never realised that. I've been using the same, plastic, tub for all the dentistry. I do wash it out thoroughly each time, but I guess there's no way of guaranteeing there's no residue with it being plastic. Wow, I had no idea. That really is a good tip - is there any way this can be put in the article on dentistry maybe? I guess as a sort of "if you really have to use clove oil, then......"

We sure can, and should add it, I"ll try to remember to do it tonight. Use glass only and wash well afterwords, or a disposable plastic container that is thrown away after each use.

You have my permission to change/add to my article.

Thanks Jeni, I was going to check before I changed it (its not changed yet.. it IS written down on a piece of paper on my desk though! hehe)

Well that will do all them a lot of good!

Thanks, for agreeing to the amendment!