The dogface puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus) is a species that commonly has a problem with overgrown teeth or dental plates. Wild puffer fish kill and eat crustaceans with hard shells – keeping their teeth worn down. They also grind their teeth on rocks and hard corals which helps them keep their teeth filed down. Often inexperienced fish keepers may feed the dogface puffer a nutritional diet but it usually consist of soft foods, and even if they eat the occasional crustacean, they just don’t find rocks or corals to grind their teeth down.

Fat Elvis is 2-3 years old dogface puffer and has spent much of his short life in an aquarium. Fat Elvis was an owner surrender to our LFS. In fall of 2016, I met this sweet boy and fell in love. Yes, his teeth were already over grown and I’m assuming this was part of the reason he ended up at the LSF. He was eating, but not crustaceans, as he cannot open his mouth wide enough to break the shells.

Over the next several months, I visited him every few days. We hustled to get everything we needed at home to set up a 120 gallon tank for him. Quickly Fat Elvis adjusted well to his new digs. We immediately tried to give him a hardy diet of crustaceans, and veggies. We planned for corals and rock hoping to entice him to chew in hopes that he would start to wear down his very overgrown teeth down naturally. Even with the best I could do, he still could not crack shells, or open his mouth wide enough, and he was unable to close his mouth. He really started to look uncomfortable. So, I really began to research my options for him. I honestly searched high and low for someone that knew how to trim his teeth, a saltwater fish doctor, or exotic vet services that could help. NOTHING! I felt helpless, I didn’t want to let him down.

This is how I did it and the considerations for this procedure:

Watch Fat Elvis get his dental procedure here

Equipment

• 2 large bowls (big enough and deep enough to safely hold the puffer)
• Large piece of cotton sheet (old bed sheet)
• Diagonal cutters
• Rubbing alcohol 91%
• Q-tips
• Pitcher 2.5 quarts
• Small syringe
• Rubber gloves
• Air stone and air pump
• Dremel and 420 cutting disk
• Eugenol (found at a drug store in the isle for toothache medicine)
• Additional lighting, if necessary

Considerations

• Timing: It is critical to consider the puffer’s overall health state prior to the procedure. This should be done prior to the puffer becoming malnourished.
• Stress: This procedure does stress the puffer some. Careful consideration should be given to the puffer’s current mental state prior to the procedure. I would caution doing this if the puffer is fighting any active fish disease.
• Secondary infection risk: dental procedures may increase the risk for bacterial infection, consider broad spectrum antibiotics 3-5 days post-procedure.
• Clean all equipment in a “fish safe” manner to reduce the risk of secondary infection.
• Prepare work environment and equipment prior to removing puffer from main tank to reduce stress on the puffer. This procedure should remain focused on the health and safety of the puffer.

Procedure

1. Prep work area and clean equipment. Adjust lighting as needed. Test dremel and cutting stone.
2. Place 5 quarts of saltwater from the tank the puffer is coming out of into each bowl. It is important to not cause any shock due to changes in water parameters, salinity, temperature, or water quality.
3. Place 5 drops of Eugenol in water of ONE bowl. This is the pre-procedure area and where you will place the puffer to sedate him. Remember that over sedation can and will cause death. Era on the side of caution, less is safer for the puffer. At any time you are unsure of the puffers safety REMOVE him and place him in the unmedicated water.
4. Place the cotton sheet into the unmedicated bowl, you will wrap your puffer in this sheet to protect him from injury while he is being held.
5. You will need to move the puffer from his tank to the medicated bowl without exposing him to air. It is often deadly for the puffer to suck air and puff. I used the pitcher to move him from one area to the other.
6. Place the puffer in the medicated bowl for no more than 3 minutes (less if your puffer is small). Observe his breathing, he will quickly becoming lethargic. If the puffer becomes agitated during the procedure, or becomes conscious and you need more time, he can be placed back in the medicated bowl for one minute. The less you have to expose him to the Eugenol, the better for the puffer and you will greatly reduce the risks associated with sedation.
7. Place puffer in unmedicated water bowl with air stone and secure puffer in the cotton sheet.
8. Place small syringe behind your puffer’s teeth. This will act a safety guard and help prevent injury to the puffer from the cutting disk.
9. Carefully use the dremel to file the puffers teeth. Do not cut too short, you will risk permanently damaging his dental plates.
10. Stay conscious of the time, the longer this takes the harder it is for your puffer.
11. Allow your puffer to rehab for a few minutes in the unmedicated water once his teeth are trimmed.
12. Place puffer back in main tank and closely observe.

Please know that I tried very hard to understand and research the best possible way to do this for Fat Elvis. I am by no means an expert. Just an experienced fish keeper with a soft spot for Fat Elvis.

Feel free to comment or email me with questions or concerns.