Need help, long puffer teeth

KCD1803 · 04/07/2015, 03:40 PM

Hi all, got a new Toby a few days ago, his teeth are bad, I read people recommend hard-shelled foods for him. Any recommendations? I see most carnivore foods brag that their formula is free of shell parts. I am adding some cheap coral tonight for him to nibble on, but I doubt I will be able to afford that for long!

Dkuhlmann · 04/07/2015, 04:01 PM

If you can't afford to take care of it why did you get it?

OnlyCrimson · 04/07/2015, 04:13 PM

If it's really bad he will need to be put under and have them cut.

tkeracer619 · 04/07/2015, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnlyCrimson

If it's really bad he will need to be put under and have them cut.

Been there, done that, why I don't keep triggers.

If his teeth are already bad it will most likely take some mild surgery.

gotnoclue · 04/07/2015, 06:42 PM

I provide snails for all my puffers. It's your only true hope now. Get small snails (yes its expensive) but you gotta feed them one or two a week.

KCD1803 · 05/04/2015, 09:09 AM

Your post was very helpful, thank you for your great advice !

Dmorty217 · 05/04/2015, 11:14 AM

Large puffers are easier to sedate and dremel their teeth, a small one like a toby I would try putting a food paste on a rock and see if that helps

Dmorty217 · 05/04/2015, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

If you can't afford to take care of it why did you get it?

Pretty sure he was talking about feeding the puffer frags which I doubt the puffer will even look at.

eddiereefs · 05/04/2015, 11:39 AM

ifs its not to big, grab the fish grab some cuticle clippers and trim em back 1,2,3 no big deal. if its larger grab some clove oil, sedate properly (read directions) and trim with dremal. buying coral or snails wont be a one trick fix, its a l lot rarer for a puffer to eat as much coral and inverts as they do in the wild to keep teeth in check, its ur job. if you cant do it for some reason, give it to someone who can.

KCD1803 · 05/12/2015, 01:37 PM

Hi all, thanks again for the help.

I have taken a multi-pronged approach to this dilemma with great success!

In the beginning I could barely see a gap between his teeth when he ate, but now it is clearly visible and he looks better already.

I've got some 4" coral frags in there and he nibbles them.

I've added some snails and he chows down on them now too.

I've added some amphipods / copepods and he picks them out of the rocks.

Got some algae growing on rocks now too, he seems to pick at it now too.

Got a LFS to make a blend of food w/ shells on.

Kies1 · 05/12/2015, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

If you can't afford to take care of it why did you get it?

What is the purpose of responding to a thread like this, just do not get it?

joshbrookkate · 05/12/2015, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kies1

What is the purpose of responding to a thread like this, just do not get it?

+1
It would be so much better to share information sharing when someone asks for help.

Bobabooie · 05/13/2015, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Been there, done that, why I don't keep triggers.

If his teeth are already bad it will most likely take some mild surgery.

Seriously? I learn something new every day. I've had to trim teeth on guinea pigs & rabbits & bird beaks but I've never heard of trimming a puffer or trigger. Always wanted a valentini since they seem to have cool personalities but HAVE to pass now. Lol

AZBigJohn · 05/13/2015, 11:34 AM

You can also buy smaller frozen clams on the half shell in the pet food areas. When I had a blue-spot puffer it would eat the clam and scrape his teeth on the shells.

Only thing I want to mention is the frags. If you mean only frag plugs, that's one thing; teaching a fish to munch on coral seems to be a not awesome plan if you hope to have more corals (that aren't snacks) down the road.

Martini5788 · 05/13/2015, 11:48 AM

Clams, oysterS, and snails. If you feed shrimp keep the shell on.

04/07/2015, 03:40 PM	#1
KCD1803 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Nashville Posts: 42	Need help, long puffer teeth Hi all, got a new Toby a few days ago, his teeth are bad, I read people recommend hard-shelled foods for him. Any recommendations? I see most carnivore foods brag that their formula is free of shell parts. I am adding some cheap coral tonight for him to nibble on, but I doubt I will be able to afford that for long!

05/04/2015, 11:14 AM	#7
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Large puffers are easier to sedate and dremel their teeth, a small one like a toby I would try putting a food paste on a rock and see if that helps __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

05/12/2015, 01:37 PM	#10
KCD1803 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Nashville Posts: 42	Updates Hi all, thanks again for the help. I have taken a multi-pronged approach to this dilemma with great success! In the beginning I could barely see a gap between his teeth when he ate, but now it is clearly visible and he looks better already. I've got some 4" coral frags in there and he nibbles them. I've added some snails and he chows down on them now too. I've added some amphipods / copepods and he picks them out of the rocks. Got some algae growing on rocks now too, he seems to pick at it now too. Got a LFS to make a blend of food w/ shells on.

05/13/2015, 11:34 AM	#14
AZBigJohn Usually confused... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,091	You can also buy smaller frozen clams on the half shell in the pet food areas. When I had a blue-spot puffer it would eat the clam and scrape his teeth on the shells. Only thing I want to mention is the frags. If you mean only frag plugs, that's one thing; teaching a fish to munch on coral seems to be a not awesome plan if you hope to have more corals (that aren't snacks) down the road. __________________ John Current Tank Info: Currently a 29 gallon all-in-one frag tank and a 210 gallon tank slowly becoming my dream system!

04/07/2015, 04:01 PM	#2
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	If you can't afford to take care of it why did you get it?

04/07/2015, 04:13 PM	#3
OnlyCrimson Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Royal Oak,Michigan Posts: 863	If it's really bad he will need to be put under and have them cut.

04/07/2015, 06:42 PM	#5
gotnoclue Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: ohio Posts: 99	I provide snails for all my puffers. It's your only true hope now. Get small snails (yes its expensive) but you gotta feed them one or two a week.

05/04/2015, 09:09 AM	#6
KCD1803 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Nashville Posts: 42	Your post was very helpful, thank you for your great advice !

05/04/2015, 11:39 AM	#9
eddiereefs Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 575	ifs its not to big, grab the fish grab some cuticle clippers and trim em back 1,2,3 no big deal. if its larger grab some clove oil, sedate properly (read directions) and trim with dremal. buying coral or snails wont be a one trick fix, its a l lot rarer for a puffer to eat as much coral and inverts as they do in the wild to keep teeth in check, its ur job. if you cant do it for some reason, give it to someone who can.

05/13/2015, 11:48 AM	#15
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	Clams, oysterS, and snails. If you feed shrimp keep the shell on.