View Full Version : Something wrong w/ my ATF?
hemptation88
08-18-2005, 9:07 AM
My 5in Atf looks lik its teeth are are gone and its only got white stubs now, wtf is going on??
guppy
08-18-2005, 11:06 AM
Has it been biting stuff in the tank? like rocks,heaters?
R1_Ridah
08-18-2005, 11:09 AM
Probably banged himself on the sidwalls of your tank. They'll grow back. Pretty common with ATF's.
What do you feed him ? if you feed him feeders and depending on the size of your tank he probably bangs himself on the walls when he chases them...
tigerfangs
08-18-2005, 3:37 PM
Calm down, this is totally normal. They are the only fish that I am aware of that periodically (monthly to bi-monthly) changes ALL its teeth at the same time. They will all fall out and be replaced within a couple of days. If they are all gone and you can already see white stubs, it means that the new ones are pushing the surface and will be perfect in a day or two. It may not be particularly hungry until this tooth replacement process is near complete. Good to see that you are alert to changes in your fish.
Very cool and good to know, I got a mental picture of little fishy dentures.
I remember when my ATF's teeth appeared to go missing. As tigerfangs said, they'll grow back. Look after that baby, they are awesome fish!!!
Ta.
hemptation88
08-21-2005, 10:29 AM
thats good to hear that they will grow back it just wuldnt have been the same w/ out teeth. do they grow back any bigger?
tigerfangs
08-21-2005, 9:05 PM
Yes, that is one of the reasons they replace their teeth. Teeth don't grow as the fish does, so they do come in a little bit bigger each time, but it may or may not be noticable.