The Puffer Forum

Ok Im not looking forward to doing this but I have to cut the puffers teeth. I tried to feed it crunchy things but it will just not eat them.
Its about 2 inches long. The question I have is. When you use the clove solution method on this site how much time do you have before the puffer wakes up?
Also what are the odds of it not waking up? I don't think I can find a vet that would do it but i will try. Right now the puffer only wants to eat brine shrip and small things like that.

Your puffer will always wake up if you use the proper dosage. Clove oil is very hard to overdose on, so there's little risk that way.

The trick for this procedure is being relatively quick with the trimming. Using clove oil on a regular basis has the potential to cause brain damage to the puffer due to the reduced amount of oxygen uptake during sedation. However, if you already know about feeding it crunchy food, you should only have to trim them once.

Just make sure everything is prepared before you start (triple check everything and do a "mock run" in your head to make sure you have everything covered). Practice using the cuticle clippers on something (like your fingernail or something) to get a feel for them, and remember that it's better to leave the teeth a little longer than to cut them too short (ie. cutting their gum/lip). Once it's over, though, both you and your puffer will be a lot happier!

What kind of puffer is it?

Mine usually started flapping their gills within 15-30 seconds in untreated water. If the fish is emaciated, I wouldn't tranq it.

it is a Velentini puffer. I will attempt this this week or early next.. How do I get the puffer to eat the crunchy things? He does not seem to like to do it. He is about 1.5 years old now.

What foods have you offered him?

I talked to some people at the pet store about this also. We tried kril, feeder snails(fresh water thats all they had). We tried a cray fish.
I heard of people feeding them muscles and such things but he is very small and is really not interested in going after large things.

Krill isn't a great puffer food. Have you tried mysis or live feeder shrimp? Also I'm assuming you have read the feeding article?