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my green spotted puffer has lost its shine, bobs around the top of the tank and looks really sick. Its teeth are HUGE. i know that this can lead to malnourishment and this is what i fear has happened. I have tried to feed it food that will wear down its teeth but it wont eat snails and is too small for large shell fish like cockles. any suggestions? I am about to isolate it so at least it has a chance at feeding time to get some food manouvered into it (as it sometimes still does).

If you can find a good vet or experienced fishkeeper they may be able to trim its beak for you, even though its not a big fish. When things get really overgrown offering the right foods doesnt help until after things have had a trim.

If you cant find a vet or a good fishkeeper to help then I guess your only option is to find some tiny nail clippers, drug the fish with a little clove oil,( although you must be careful NOT to overdose, most people probably kill their fish by drugging them excessively) bag the fish and attempt it yourself, preferably underwater, and with some very steady hands, the fish is probably too small to file back the teeth, and youd only squash it. It sounds and is drastic, but if the fish is gonna die anyway , you have nothing to lose.

Beyond that there is very little advice to give, except dont miss!

this is how some people do it, although using a dremel multi on the fish in your case might be a little excessive.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_2/cav2i1/puffer_dentistry/puffer2.htm

When youve clipped his teeth and got his weight back up to normal you could try offering small shrimp, even my dwarf puffers take apart small amano shrimp, so I doubt a green spotted puffer would have any problem.