They're like pringles!!!!

[qtrhorse89]

I can't just have one and be happy. It started with Hikaru the figure 8 puffer in his 10 gallon. I then decided his 10 gallon just wan't gonna cut it so he got a 38 gallon. Then I thought wow the tank looks empty with just him so he got tank mates. I was happy with this......for about three weeks. Now I'm planning again lol. Besides after the 38 gallon came in and I gave the ten gallon to my grandmother the spot the 10 gallon in was lonely and it wanted another tank to keep it company.

So I have room for a 25 long, 30, 35ish tank and decided a nice lurker in it's own little display tank would be nice. I like the congo but I'm not sure how to go about getting one. I can order one but I'm being picky and I want a red one. I'd settle for a orange or yellow but I'd love to have a red one. So any suggestions on how to find one? Are there any particular websites that may carry them. I'm pretty sure my lfs could order one for me....they have porcupine and dogfaced puffers in all the time but I suppose there would be no guarantee on the color would there. I'm willing to wait, I haven't even gotten the tank and I'll still have to cycle it so it's going to be a while but I like to plan ahead. i.e. she already has the tank deco laid out in her mind lol

[Dadof4]

Congo's are so cool but they can be a bear to get. The biggest reasons though of were season and the area along the congo is militarily unstable at times so getting these guys out of there can be a challenge. All I can say is keep trying to buy online. Aquabid.com occasionally gets them and Thatpetplace.com does get them in stock at times. If you like the Congo's, look at the Arrowhead too, another very pretty lurker species that has a similar look to the Congo.

[thekarens]

Congos are relatively easy to find here in Houston depending on the time of year, but I think finding a red one will definitely present a challenge for you. Good luck on your search!

[qtrhorse89]

Yeah i've been scoping out those petplace and aquabid. They had one on aquabid but it only shipped to Canada or something. So I'll just have to keep looking and I may go bug the guy that orders at my local lfs. I made friends with him when I ordered my dragon goby so maybe he will be able to help me out. *shrug* Either way I can now see it's going to be a long search and wait game. Such a shame they can be so hard to get a hold of. It makes sense but they are such super awesome fish. Dadof4 thanks for the advice I'll look into the arrowheads. And thekarens, thanks for the reply. I wish I was in Houston if they are easy to find down there. I'm all the way over in North Carolina and getting anything out of the ordinary over here can be a real pita. Well thanks for the replies and so the search begins.

[LilGreenPuffer]

NC? I was born there. We're driving down in a couple of weeks.

[qtrhorse89]

Sweet! NC is a great state even if it doesn't have much in the way of odd ball fish selections. I'm over in Raleigh right now going to school but I was born and raised in Wilmington.

[LilGreenPuffer]

We've been to Raleigh quite a bit. I was born in Chapel Hill, my grandmother lives in Hillsborough, and my cousins live near Greensborough, where I almost went to college - at Guilford.

[Pufferpunk]

Someone here just got one shipped for them. Do a search for the thread.

[qtrhorse89]

Thanks PP I'll look into it. Right now I'm looking into some of the other lurker species too and their availability. The LFS I usually go to kind of just looked at me funny when I asked for a fw puffer that wasn't a dwarf, GSP, or Figure 8. So I hit the phone book. I've got one store that's supposed to see what they can get and then call me back but most of the others had no clue *sigh*. I'll probably have to hunt online and see what I can find.

[qtrhorse89]

Okay so update.

I am being indecisive and I can't figure out what I want. I like the congo, the arrowhead, the palembang is growing on me, and I'd love an abei. Problem....I can't decide which one. I can't even find an abei or a congo so there is that. I can find the suvatti and the palembang. So what would everyone suggest for a 30gallon with black sandy substrate, some rocks, artificial plants....etc. Should I just go with what I can find easily or maybe try to wait and be patient for the more elusive species? Who would be easier to keep/harder to keep? Who moves around the most? Is there a particular one that exhibits some unique behavior? I've looked through the puffer pedia and the library. I've searched around on the forums and I know each puffer is individual but some generalizations would be awesome. I like the idea of a lurker and I'd love to see one buried. I'd prefer to be able to see it and I'm usually home sitting by my tanks in the evenings so the nocturnal part isn't a problem. I'd like something that's a little outgoing at least for a lurker and that isn't going to hide from me all the time. I realize they are lurkers and lurking is what they do but is there one species over another that would hang out in the open and not hide away 24/7. Sorry I ask to many questions I'm just looking for a different view on my choices. Thanks to all who help.

On a random note one of the black mollies in my fig 8's tank looks pregnant which means the he and the knight goby should get a good meal. I sure hope so at least, if not the local lfs is going to get a shipment of black mollies from none other than moi. *sigh* my mother shoved them off on me. Pretty fish but i have 1 male and 3 females which means they are happy little sobs that are worse than rabbits. I halfway thought that Karu the puffer would eat them (couldn't help it didn't have another tank to put them in) but nope he's become friends with the little buggers. Although, everyone's in a heavily decorated 38gal so they prob stay out of his way

[thekarens]

If you by any chance find an abei let me know. We get most everything here and I haven't been able to find one for love nor money. I've never seen one for sale online either.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Ask Agnate whether he got his abei from somewhere that ships to the US. (He's in Canada.)

My LFS actually had an abei in a couple of months ago (very active, by the way). I hear that the availability of some species is seasonal, so waiting would probably pay off. If you want a certain puffer and can care for it, don't settle for second-best - go for the one you really want.

[qtrhorse89]

Alright so I'm going tonight to pick up the 30gal tank. Gonna swing by a petstore and grab an hob filter probably one that's rated for a 55-75ish or just two 30's which ever way is gonna be cheaper. If I go with the one 55-75 I'll probably add an air stone or power head to keep the water more oxygenated. That way I can go ahead and start cycling the tank. Then over the next few weeks i'll add deco. I still can't decide whether I want an arrowhead or a congo. I suppose the arrowhead will get larger, but I think the colorful congos are so pretty and they just have such a cute grouchy face. Ah who am I kidding I'll probably wind up with a congo and when my mother and friends ask me why I bought a 30gal tank for a 4-6inch fish that barely moves I'll sigh and say because I'm crazy. A coworker tried to insist today that a 15gallon would be fine for 4inch fish on its own. *snort* Maybe for a normal 4inch fish but this is a puffer and any puffer that comes into my house is getting the best. Just ask Hikaru the fig 8 swimming around in his 38gallon and yet he still glass surfs *sigh* the funny part is the night goby joined him so now it's like watching a syncranated glass surfing ballet.