The Puffer Forum

My 1 figure eight puffers teeth are getting way to long because he can get the snails I'm giving him without having to touch the shells. I really don't want to have to cut his teeth myself so is there anything else I can try? Maybe a different type of snail, right now I've been trying ram horn snails because they're free to get but if there is a better one that arent so easy for the little puffer to pluck out I'll get it.

You can use ramshorns but try crushing them first. This way the puffer has to bit the shells too. Have you read our dentistry article? Crunchy foods are for keeping teeth at the right length but don't work well to wear them down once they're too long.

There is no amount of crunchy foods that will trim the teeth after they are overgrown. You must clip them yourself: library/hospital/dentistry/

Wow that looks scary! I hope my puffer never needs his teeth trimmed. I think I would be to afraid I would kill him to do that my self. Then again the alternative is worse.

Hi folks,

I'm new here, but I wanted to add a trick I used a quite a few years ago before I knew of such helpful articles on puffer dentistry.

My poor little puff had quite the overbite and it was starting to affect his eating and I had no idea what to do, so I mashed up some bloodworms on both sides of a metal nail file (the type without a powder coating) and let them dry overnight. I then dipped the worm-coated nail file into the tank and the puffer bit down and thrashed a little from side to side like he was trying to rip off a chunk of krill meat. A few feedings like this and his teeth were back under control.

That was more of a temporary measure, and it's probably a good idea to eventually try to get used to the clove oil method, which isn't so bad after a while. But I admit to having my hands shake so much I was worried about the precision of my tooth clipping! I kept envisioning "oh god, there goes a puffer lip" but my SAPs are puckery as ever. And their mouths are *tiny*!

That might do if they are slightly overgrown but it's a good way to break off the teeth or even rip them out by the roots, if they are severely overgrown, as the puffer in the pic of my article.

So far he can still eat but they are getting pretty long, so how much clove oil do I add to 1 cup of water?

You'd be better off using Finquel (MS-222), as CO can will stop their breathing & cause brain damage. It's probably OK to use in a pinch but if it's not an emergency, try to find the better tranq for him. Can you post a pic of his teeth?

He's never been one to sit still for a camera so I doubt I could get such a detailed pic, both little puffers I have are still only an inch and a tiny bit long. One just uses its teeth more than the other.

If I can find a little baggie, I might be able to send you some. If it is a larger amount I could sell some.

J-P wrote:If I can find a little baggie, I might be able to send you some. If it is a larger amount I could sell some.

Of the clove oil or the new recomended stuff?

Clove oil is a liquid & can be found at most drug stores.

Well I really don't want to give him brain damage

I've got MS-222 You can also order some out of BC but you'll need a vet to fill the prescription.