The Puffer Forum

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I'm looking for advice on my F8, Patrick. As the title suggests, he is growing a large beak and is struggling to eat. I am going to trim his beak asap! Ive watched videos on how to do this, and I just thought that before I attempt it I'd seek advice from the experts. I know I have to use a drop of clove oil per cup of tank water to sedate him, but I want to get my facts 100% before I give it a go. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Many thanks, James

I don't use clove oil, I'm horrible at math and I know I would mess it up.

First I set up my area! Use a towel on the counter...if you some how loose the fish it will stick to the towel.

Next I set up a plastic ice cream bucket with some tank water.

I catch the fish with a tea pitcher, gently follow him around the tank and scoop him up.

Wait...

Then pour him slowly into the ice cream bucket.

Wait...

Then use the net to gently pick him up (Stay in the water!). Then I aim his mouth towards me, still under water. Trim. Let go. Wait.

Gently I put the ice cream bucket in the tank and let him swim out.

Use firm hands, they will puff and chatter teeth, the spikes may feel like they hurt you, but they don't...it's just the sensation.

Make sure everything you use is clean and designated for fish purposes.

Have the house silent and calm.

Or just read this: library/hospital/dentistry/

And then this, so it doesn't ever happen again: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/

Thanks for the help guys, I sedated him and it went well. He seems a lot happier now! I have read up on the article about feeding correctly so hopefully I shouldn't have the same problem again

The first article says not to feed Malaysian trumpet snails. Does this include feeding them to figure 8 puffers b/c that is what my LFS has...trumpet snails.

Trumpet snails can be hard enough to shatter their beak, pond or ramshorns are suitable

From that 1st article:

Do not feed your puffers the ice cream cone shaped snails called Malaysian Trumpet Snails! MTS’s shells are too hard for puffer’s teeth and have been known to crack them, making it difficult for them eat correctly.

Huge +1 to the folks saying not to feed MTS to ANY puffer. F-8 incisors are not strong enough for those shells. If that is what the LFS suggests that you use for puffers, I would not trust their advice on anything else either. Ramshorns are the best for F-8s, but are not as productive in breeding tanks as Common Pond snails.

RTR wrote: Ramshorns are the best for F-8s, but are not as productive in breeding tanks as Common Pond snails.

Evidently my ramshorns didn't get that memo...

Ramhorns require longer times or significantly larger tanks to get to near-maximum size (3/4 - 1") . If you are working with small puffers (such as F-8s or SAPs), the time to harvest is closer between those two forms. If you are working with adult GSPs, Fahakas, or worse (T. mbu), the time difference is non-trivial. I could harvest all the F-8 sized food I needed from the T. mbu's tank - he ignored anything under 1/2 to 2/3 inch. But it was only safe to do so when he was asleep, a PITA. He wanted to play if he saw me... massive splashing, then moping.