Puffer with broken teeth; feeding suggestions?

[GDS-Entropy]

Hello,

I have realized that my dogface puffer, recently acquired through the same source as my poor emaciated narrow line puffer, seems to have all four teeth broken off fairly far up, producing an effect similar to someone with no teeth in appearance.

What can I feed this poor puffer that he will be able to eat? I have tried a number of thawed cubes, rehydrated krill, etc.. with no effect.

Needless to say, I will NOT be ordering from that place again. One month to get my order, no contact half the time, and two emaciated puffers in poor condition on top of that. Decades in the hobby and I've never seen such garbage.

I would appreciate some advice here, and if you could be kind enough to perhaps respond to my other thread regarding narrow line puffer problems as well, I would be most grateful. Even though I have been doing this a very long time, I still like to get input from others. Second opinions are quite valuable.

Thanks in advance,
Ian McDonald

 

[Affordable Aquatic]

Its not a big deal for puffer teeth. They constantly grow, and will grow back soon enough. I know of people having to clip their puffer's teeth to keep growth under control. I dont know where your fish came from, but its possible that the teeth were clipped on purpose.

Feed it something it might be excited to eat, like a fresh clam belly or piece of squid or freshly defrosted raw shrimp. If he wont eat from the water column, buy a few littlenecks, open them up on the half shell. Loosen most of the clam from the shell, leaving just enough to keep it attached to the shell and put it on the bottom of the tank. If the fish is otherwise healthy, he should go for it.

 

[al0ha]

Feed it something it might be excited to eat, like a fresh clam belly or piece of squid or freshly defrosted raw shrimp. If he wont eat from the water column, buy a few littlenecks, open them up on the half shell. Loosen most of the clam from the shell, leaving just enough to keep it attached to the shell and put it on the bottom of the tank. If the fish is otherwise healthy, he should go for it.

sometimes i feel these fish eat better than we do :squid:

 

[GDS-Entropy]

Hello and thank you.

This little guys teeth are broken really far up, and at a 5-10 degree angle, making it impossible for him to take a chunk out of anything. He has to suck up whatever he intends to eat. I will try to take a picture of his teeth, but I can't make any promises as far as when I can get a clear shot; it is pretty much up to the puff.

Thanks much for the second opinion!
Ian McDonald

 

[Affordable Aquatic]

Remember that those teeth are primarily for crushing shells and scraping the meat from the shells. Most of what goes into its belly is going to have been swallowed whole. Try the fresh fish and if that doesnt work, soak it in a little garlic and paprika. Hell get hungry enough to eat. And those teeth will come back, and once they do, you'll be worrying about how to keep them ground down and under control.

 

[GDS-Entropy]

Thanks for the reassurance, even though I have been in and out of the hobby since the mid 90's , sometimes you just have to hear someone else say what you are thinking.

I feed my puffers dried krill, shrimp with shell, crab legs and various frozen foods. They eat my macro algae as well.

Thanks!
Ian McDonald