The Puffer Forum

Because it's hard for us europeans to get our hands on some finquel, a friend and co-puffer owner of mine ordered a product called narcosis, made by "House of kata". This product is made for putting koi-fish to sleep for medical treatment.
Because I know puffers have a delicate skin, not having scales, nor guil-flaps(don't know how to put it), I thought maybe it's not safe for them.... It's for my figure 8's.

I got it with a prescription from my vets. Called MS222 here (UK). Not heard of the narcosis, & looking at their website, it does not say what is in the product, so unless you know more about it, I would not use it. If its for a one-off trimming, you could try the clove oil method?

Can you try to get a hold of clove oil? The thing I'm worried about is that if you add even slightly too much or have your puffer in there a big too long, it can cause serious damage, even death. You have to be very careful during dentistry.

I have done it once with clove oil but it is not a healthy product for fish. I do know about ms222 but found it rather elaborate to get a prescription when in the end you are doing the whole dentistry yourself. Personally I don't care much for manufacturers who don't list the ingredients on the bottle or their website.

I'll go the long route and get my hands on some ms222....

In the long run, MS222 is definitely the best way to go. I used clove oil once on my sharpnose puffer and it worked great, but it can be pretty dangerous because of the risk of over-dosing your fish. Also, if used too often it can result in serious neurological impairment. So, MS222 is the safest way for sure

I'm about to do dentistry on my 3 SAP's. Never done it before, but figured I better learn seeing how I have all these puffers. Can't be depending on other people in an emergency.

Here in the UK has anyone tried a product by Kusuri called 'Masuizai' Koi sedate? Obviously it's used to sedate Koi, which I know are much bigger fish. I was going to use Clove oil, but now I'm hesitant because of what's been stated here about neurological damage. I wasn't going to sedate the fish totally, but just sort of make them drowsy. I'm really nervous about all of this, but my puffer's teeth are almost to the point where they will block his ability to get food in his mouth, I can see him struggle now, but he's not thin, so I know he's eating good, they all are -- but doing the trimming is inevitable. Has to be done.

I have done it twice using clove oil & once with MS222. (The first times I was in such a fluster that I didn't do it properly!) I work at a vets, so was able to get the MS222 fairly easily (although its quite expensive & I only used a pinch from the 25g pot). He remained much more immobile with the clove oil & was a little wriggly with the MS222 - so maybe I didn't use enough. Recovery was good with both products, but I wouldn't use the clove oil again with this fish, due to the reported side effects. Just make sure you have a steady hand & don't rush things!

Someone else used a koi sedative, and the fish died. We're not sure if it was the medicine or the way in which it way administered, but I wouldn't risk it myself.

If you're all in the UK, can't one of you get it (maybe BFF, since he works at a vet) & send some to each other?

Pufferpunk wrote:If you're all in the UK, can't one of you get it (maybe BFF, since he works at a vet) & send some to each other?

SHE!

I would be happy to send some of my MS222 powder to anyone in the UK who needs it. Don't think I could send it overseas though - the laws applying to prescription meds is too strict!

bigfatfish wrote:I would be happy to send some of my MS222 powder to anyone in the UK who needs it. Don't think I could send it overseas though - the laws applying to prescription meds is too strict!

So sending it to Belgium will be out of the question?
I once tried to order it from America, but there price for shipping it to Belgium was 100$. Kind of ridiculious if you know the bottle only costs 10-15$.

Just don't get caught smuggling drugs!

My pot cost me £36 - & I got it for cost price! Not sure how I would go about sending a small package of white powder out of the country!! I would be happy to if I could think of a safe way to do it!

Unless the chemical is restricted in some way, you can just send it. I've ordered white powders in small plastic bags from the UK to the US(Flubenol-15) and it went through just fine, listed as "aquarium additive" for customs.