Schoutedeni, SAP or Irrubesco dilemma

[Pufferpunk]

Mt 3rd one (& last surviving) has started hiding & stopped eating. I won't be getting these again.

[gkai]

Is there some sort of insurance or guarantee or way to get reimbursed? Losing 3 fishes like that is always bad, but given the price usually asked for those, it's just awful...

[Pufferpunk]

I also lost other fish, including 2 large $$$ plecos & all the older plecos in 1 tank they were in. He reimbursed me for 1/2 of the 2 large plecos I lost. I've had the puffers to long now to get anything for them. I'm not planning on getting anymore fish.

[devildog999]

What do you think killed them all; it seems like to lose all of those fish and all the puffs, something external happened. Cannot imagine the fish just had a bad go. The one I have is doing pretty good though he is still in QT and will be going into a 40g breeder with 10g sump pretty soon here. Not that the money should matter, but I would be pretty upset to lose one $200 fish let along 3 or 4 (hopefully the last one ends up pulling through).

That being said, what has your experience thus far been with keeping multiple Spotted Congo's in the same aquarium? I had wanted to get two and would not mind adding another but was worried it would lead to a death fight.

[Pufferpunk]

Multiple Congos should be fine. They actually seemed depressed, as each one died. One stayed by the body of the other. I have NO idea why I've had such bad luck with fish, since moving to SC. In my 40+ years of fishkeepng, I've never lost more fish. Probably $4000, since I moved here.

[gkai]

By SC you mean Southern California? Maybe there is some water problem...some chemicals added to the water distribution system, within health norm for humans, but not good for fishes...like fluor?

[devildog999]

Oh wow... I cannot even imagine. Maybe a stupid question by maybe not... do you make your own RO/DI water or get some from your LFS? I learned the hard way that RO/DI is the only way to go.

[Pufferpunk]

LOL, South Carolina. We have great water here.

[lilacamy931]

@Bleedingheartmommy - yeah it is such a shame! I have my Schoutedeni on order and now the waiting game for him/her to get into the country and be quarantined.

i have other places looking for both so if manage to get a breeding pair eventually hooray! The red eyes definitely seem much much less known now.

In the past kept pygmies, fahaka, congo, hairy and red spotted

@gkai - shame about the red eyes dying, I bet they were gorgeous. I'm not going to lie if this puff dies on me once here I am going to be distraught in more ways then one as costing a pretty penny.

@Pufferpunk - oh no! How is the 3rd doing? I'm pondering if need to treat mine for parasites when here...

@devildog999 - congrats! Love piccies when settled

@welshstyles - I am paying just over £200 for mine. If that price tag suits you drop me a pm and can pass you the name of the stockist (they will have to special order it in) The fact that Maidenhead have them in is very very rare as have my locals looking.

On a separate note - attempting to start a snail breeder tank and had terrible luck with bad sellers. Does it matter bladder/tadpole snails over ramshorns?

[Pufferpunk]

He hasn't eaten in several days & hides a lot. When they 1st got here they were always at the front of the glass, happy to see me & ate like pigs.

[devildog999]

@lilacamy931 - From everything I had read and seen online, they WILL have parasites. Due to the fact that they are all wild caught, internal parasites are a sure thing for the most part. Def want to treat to be safe; unless the seller has already treated of course. The fish shop I bought from had already treated luckily.

[lilacamy931]

@pufferpunk - hope the last one pulls through for you

@devildog999 ah fair - will check with the LFS once he is in the country and check what their quarantine procedure is.

Has anyone heard or tried of whole dried snails?! I've found them on Ebay

[Pufferpunk]

I haven't seen him in days... Going to look for the body now.

[devildog999]

Did you find him?

[Pufferpunk]

No, I tore the tank apart.