The Puffer Forum

So I understand that they need a bit more dentistry than other puffers. How will I know when they need it?? Will it be obvious? Also, I am in Canada and not sure if I can get MS-222 here. Anyone in Canada have any luck??

They are doing great by the way I was back in the pest store and my puffers look so much healthier and I swear mine have grown already. Thanks to all the wonderful advice I have received on here. I am working on aquascaping and getting more plants in their tank.

TIA

As a fellow SAP keeper I can safely say that it becomes very obvious when they need their teeth trimming. One thing to be careful of is to watch the growth of the teeth in each individual puffer. I have 4 and have noticed that despite them all having the same diet, I have only had to trim 2 of the puffers teeth. In fact one of the two I have had to trim twice, they seem to have vastly different growth rates despite all being a similar size.

Any questions let me know.

+ 1 to joey90's comments. There are individual differences in eating styles which may account foe faster inscisor plate growth.

Glass pacing, when should they settle? I have done the IP treatment and the high heat/salt method. They seem to pace the glass a lot. I did just do a 50% water change and moved stuff around as well as added some new plants. My smallest puff still paces quite a bit and doesn't seem to snail hunt as much as my other 4. He has been placing the glass quite a bit. What could it mean? Just stress and adjusting to the environment? SHould I treat longer for IP's?

Mine never stopped. One of the reasons I sold them.

In an established tank, glass pacing may be from boredom and/or insufficient current to provide them with enough exercise. SAP tanks should have relatively high current areas (usually along the front glass) for exercise and lower current areas for feeding and resting and/or sleep. Fish need exercise. Outside of the breeding season, SAPs are main channel fish, They need more current than many puffers.

HTH

I agree with RTR's comments re. flow they do love a good swim in the currents.

As to the glass pacing, you need to see if you can watch them without them seeing you. My SAP's will be swimming happily around the tank, until they see someone coming then they swim up and the glass. Minute they think your gone they go back to pottering around the tank as normal.

I have a canister filter and a HOB on it so it seems that they do swim in that. Maybe I will try to spy lol.