SAP Behavior and Teeth Question

[crystalizer1]

I have a question about a behavior that my SAP has been showing for the last month. When i first put him in the tank he would travel up and down the glass a little bit and get board and go back to forging. Now he has started to do this most of the time and looks a bit, i guess frantic about it. He even brakes the plane of the water at times. I have checked on all of my water levels and have not found anything that would me making him uncomfortable. (Amm-0, Nitraite-0, PH-7.1 and Nitrate-15) I know my Nitrates can get a little high at times because my tap water but i keep up on my water changes to make sure they are in check. I do have plants and a C02 ladder so I have added a bubble stone to make sure he has enough oxygen, it has been in the tanks for weeks now and he will plays in it for a minute, then goes back to the glass. i'm not sure what else to do?

The only thing that has changed is that i have noticed his teeth are getting long. I have read the articale on triming teeth and did try it a week ago. I guess i don't quite understand how to clip the teeth when they are round and not flat. I have a small sharp cuticle nipper but i just couldn't get it at the right angle. I was so worried about keeping him out of the water that i clipped just the tip and wanted to get some feed back before i attempted it again. He is still able to eat but i know i need to do it very soon.

So could his over grown teeth be what is making him act funny or am i missing some thing else?

I would love any thoughts on one or both topics! Thanks!

[Myaj]

SAP's are notoriously hyperactive puffers, and they are also one of the few "schooling" puffers. Its even a stretch to call them schooling, but they are definately more comfortable with a few others of their kind. Your tank would be too small for more though, that's a problem.

How planted is the tank? If its really really planted heavily, that will give him more things to explore. But sometimes SAP's are just neurotic and won't stop pacing. Mine had a 4ft tank to explore, and he WOULD spend time exporing and hunting for snails, but the second someone walked into the room he'd start pacing again. Whether it was out of nervousness or a begging behavior, I don't know. Try to watch your guy from outside the room, see if he starts swimming normally when he thinks there's no one watching.

As far as the dentistry thing.. its tricky.. its a very nerve wracking experience to do it, especially the first time. One thing that helped me was to gently pull back on the puff's "lips" to expose more of the teeth, so you can see better. Usually there's a lot more to cut than you can see without the lips pulled back. When they are small, getting even the small cuticle nippers in there can be tough.

[crystalizer1]

Thanks for the reply Myaj!

My tank is not overly planted but i have lots of hiding places for the loaches so lots of places for him to explore when he wants to. I will try to watching him from around the corner and see if he calms down. I knew that they were ok with other SAP but i didn't know that they could become lonely! How many do they like to school with? Cuz the good new in all this is that i was just given a 50 gal tank and i now have a reason to put it up! I had not been planning on it because i was happy with my current tank, but i have enjoyed watching him so why not get some more!

As for the teeth, my real fear is breaking them. Are they like fingernails, i mean can they be cut from one side without breaking the rest of the tooth? Sorry i'm not sure how to say that any better.......I hope that is not too confusing.

-Crystal

[Myaj]

Yes, they are just like fingernails actually. Consistancy wise at least. Just be careful to not slip and cut his lip, although even that will heal.

As far as keeping them with others, I think its more of a security thing. They feel less threatened if there are others of their kind around, you know, the whole, "well, maybe they'll eat one of the other guys before me" thing.

A 50 gallon tank would be great for your current fish plus lets say 2 more SAP's (and if it was me, I'd bring the group of loaches up to 6).

[Nick]

I've found puffers find tanks boring if they can see the whole thing at once, so tall decorations they can't see around by just swimming to the top of the tank are necessary to decrease pacing. At least, this was the case with my dwarf puffers.

[crystalizer1]

Thanks for all the Info!

I have been keeping the plants trimmed down, so i will let it overgrow a bit and see if that helps brake up the view. I have to wait a month or so before i'll have time (and $$$) to start the new tank but now that i know what my little community likes it will be full of places to explore and hide!

As of the teeth, I will try trimming them tonight.....