Valentini's teeth growing

[fishieness]

hello everyone. I have had my valentini puffer in my 29 gallon since about feb or march of 2005. So he has been there a while. But his teeth are growing and it is now become a problem because he is having trouble eating larger pieces. I have to break it up into tiny pieces for him to eat. He eats frozen and such and flakes and pellets no problem, but the krill, or something that will ACTUALY wear his teeth down, is becoming too big for him to eat. I was wondering if there is osmething i can do. Because of the size, he will no longer eat larger pieces so i can no longer feed it over rocks too. i have been feeding him frozen krill every day pretty much and his teeth still are getting larger. Im not sure if they have gotten too much larger lately, but they definatly havnt been getting smaller. I dont know if something like clams will work either. There is an old thread on here called "puffer dentistry" or osmething of the sort from like last year i remember reading. However, since it is so small, i wouldnt need a dremel and figure i could just use something like toenail clippers. Do you think there is something else
thanks i can do besides take him out and give him anesthesia and continue with the process?

 

[fishieness]

PS: he has never touched my snails or hermits either. I was thinking of getting some cheap crabs, and he might snap at them, but i doubt it........

 

[whitey_028]

I broke my tooth on the bone of a grouper sandwich

Maybe that will help? just kidding...

 

[fishieness]

bump.....
thanks everyone for looking!

 

[ryanhayes9]

here you go hope it helps
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/198682/valentini-puffer-big-teeth

 

[jonny bolt]

You should be feeding him a clam or a mussle etc. every week or 2 atleast. Its a nice treat, and they love to go at it and really get to use their fused beaks in order to reach treat inside. Mine loves em. I live near the Marsh, so I can luckily get them for free. This helps to keep my Valentini's teeth in check.
However my friend did not do this for his the first year he had him, and his tooth got huge. We had to do the Clove Oil dentistry. We put him under with the Clove Oil and trimmed his tooth down with a small pair of sterilized nail clippers.

 

[fishieness]

hmmm... i didnt know that clove oil would do it? but that realy isnt an anesthetic so much a a poison is it?
and ive tried clams since like a month after i first got him. he doesnt go for them. he wont eat any crabs or hermits or snails or anything. Starfish either. only waht i feed him.

 

[jonny bolt]

Did you open the clam a little? Or atleast break a piece of its shell out so the puffer can use his beak? Are they live/fresh? They should be. I cant imagine a puffer looking at one and not claiming it is their own. My Puffer goes right for it, and hovers over it to let the others know he owns it lol.
If you read the thread posted above by ryanhayes9, you will see that Clove Oil is an option if you are unable to come across what is first listed. It works extremely well if you follow directions. We had my friends Valentini out cold within 10-15 seconds, tooth fixed within 5, and back in the tank he went. He woke up inside of 20 seconds as my friend craddled him in his hand, and once he woke up he swam out of his hand and has 100% since. That was a last Winter.

 

[fishieness]

thanks johnny! yeah. i havent had a lot of time for anythign today so i didnt read the link yet. however, i have read it once or twice before, jsut not recently. I guess ill try that hopefully on saterday or something
and yeah, i got a live clam, cracked it open, let it sit for a few hours, no interest whatsoever. Ill try another one again soon i supose.
thanks!

 

[cgrant]

you can also try to put some of the dried coral in the trank (decorative stuff)
My golden puffer will carry the dried coral around the tank every once in a while, I always assumed he was giving his beak a workout?
Seems to be working though!

 

[reefreak29]

my freind usess a dentistd drill on his

 

[fishieness]

i just tried another clam, he showed absolutly NO interest in it, but as soon as i ripped some out and let it float by him, he did pick some up...... i think ill get some clove oil tomorrow or friday.
thanks everyone