The Puffer Forum

Bcummings8521 wrote:Do the teeth on the teeth (lol just sounds funny) enterlock. It could be to help them grow at the same rate or something. You can see how they kinda grow apart from each other so maybe they enterlock further up.

They may interlock further up, but without an autopsy, I have no way of telling. The definitely grow away from each other (as indicated by the spacing). Why this is the case I am not certain. Usually, teeth of this shape are made for tearing flesh (like a shark) as opposed to crushing shells (like other puffers). The close proximity of the teeth though would state otherwise (as is the case when even small meaty pieces get stuck between their teeth). Thus they are shaped like a carnivore's teeth but not spaced like one.

I have a feeling that it is a mystery that we may never know because there is so little data on them in the wild.

See, it's like what I've been saying all along. For all we think we know about puffers, there's so much more we don't know. Mysterious little puffs of joy!

Snail shells both clean and erode dental plates. Remember, puffers do not have front-of-the-mouth teeth anymore, they have fused plates which arose from multiple teeth. Those plates act like our incisors. They also have grinding pharyngeal teeth, which act a bit like our molars but also continue crushing shells (and bones) with the waste being flushed out through the gills or forward through the mouth (depending in part on size).

The serrations would be handy if they were scale or fin eaters and nippers, but they are not.

All 3 of my SAPs have those serrated edges along the inside of the teeth. It is strange

RTR .. in your findings have you never come across a SAP with serrated teeth?

To be honest, I never noticed, or really looked. These days it would have to be postmotem, if I could see them at all. i did examine some mbuna teeth - they vary a lot and have all sorts of modifications - any old edge in their quest for niches...

If possible, I'll do a 50-50 blood worm - snail diet for a couple weeks and with the next trim, I'll see if I can catch a clipping and put it under the scope for you

Not exactly sure what it would mean, but it would be interesting

My feeble brain is loaded with obscure facts and factoids. You never know when they will link up with another fact and the bell will ring.

Got the Pics!!

Although inconclusive under the scope, they are interesting. The clippings looked damaged from the cutting. I was hoping for a nice clean shot but this was the best I got.

Thanks to PP, I was so busy with work I forgot all about these. She reminded me on another forum.

Well I know this is an older post but this topic is where i lack info and would like some tips since I just got a SAP yesterday. Did you just trim his top teeth? Also how much of the teeth did you trim, just the part that goes to a point? Also how often do you personally do this? Any tips and info would be greatly appreciated. This makes me a little nervous but I know I am capable of doing it. I just want to make sure I do it correctly so I don't hurt him or anything like that.

library/hospital/dentistry/

feeding a diet of 90%+ of snails will cut down the frequency of this.

and yes, just trim the bottom edges... not up to the gums

do you trim the bottom teeth also?

I have, yes.