Thrilled to be Getting Red Congo Puffer!

[pufferpuggirl]

I am hoping that by Tuesday (Wednesday at latest), I will have a beautiful red Congo to add to my puffer family!

I am so excited, I've wanted a red Congo since I got my first Congo puffer. The Congo I have now is a lovely orange colour, and she's got quite a personality too. It would be awesome if the red one is a male, but I have no idea and I never asked the person at the LFS.

We were due to go up yesterday to get the red Miurus, but my husband's wages didn't go into the bank as they were supposed to, and we've been told it will be Tuesday (due to the Bank Holiday on Monday) before the money will be in our account, so I had to put off going up there to get the Congo. I was really disappointed, but I phoned my friend at the LFS and told him my predicament and he offered to hold the puffer until next weekend, but I am not waiting until next weekend, I want it as soon as I can possibly get it.

I am so excited!!

I'm just curious about something though. A while back, when I was talking to a friend about Congo puffers, my friend mentioned that along with red, brown and orange, Congo puffers also come in a green colour. He even went as far as to say that the green colour was very rare and much sought after. I was surprised by this because I've never read anything about a Congo being green, nor does my Aqualog book mention anything about T muirus being a green colour. So I was curious if anyone else has ever heard of a green Congo? I don't think I'd be interested in green even if I could find one that colour. For some reason, the red just does it for me. I remember when I was new to TPF, and I seen PufferPunk's avatar of the red Congo, I thought it wasn't real. I thought it was like a cartoon character or something. I just think it's awesome a puffer being red! And you better believe that I will be posting photos of him/her when I get the red puffer here. Roll on Tuesday!!!

I believe someone was offering a red Congo for sale on here, but seems like it was down south, which is always the case for me. I see something I like, it's in London, or Essex, never up here where I am!

[pufferpuggirl]

We drove up to Beverley today and I got my lovely red Congo puffer. I think it's a "she" but I'm uncertain right now because I'm trying to give the new Congo a little peace to calm down after the long ride back home. I tried to feed it when I fed all my my other puffers, and it hasn't taken any food, but I think that could be that it just needs to settle.

Before we got there, my husband was saying he hoped that this really was a red puffer and not a brownish orange one. No doubts about it. This is one RED puffer, a very dark red, but not brown and certainly not orange. A very pretty puffer. It's just smaller than the one I have now, but mine was about that size when I first got it, so I'm sure the red one will fatten up once it's here for a while.

I am SOOOOO happy to have this new beautiful red puffer. What more can a girl want? (well maybe a Schoutedeni?)

[bigfatfish]

I'm sure I don't need to ask you to post some pictures when he/she has settled in! Congratulations on the new addition.

[pufferpuggirl]

Thank you -- I thought about trying to take some photos tonight, but instead I turned off the aquarium lights early to help Red settle in. I will get some as soon as I possibly can, as she's (I think it's a she, looks like my orange one and I know she's a she) so pretty that I will be proud to show her off!

[pufferfreak]

Pictures!!! Thats great. What tone of green? A lime green congo would be pretty cool.

[pufferpuggirl]

The Congo I got today is RED.

[Lil' Swimz$]

No. He meant what shade of green are the green congos, I'm assuming. How cool Schismy007!!

[pufferfreak]

I am definitely NOT a she!!!

[Lil' Swimz$]

What? No, I didn't say she, heh heh, I said he. Pffff, I knew you were a guy.

Oh, who am I kidding?! Sorry.

[Dadof4]

Pictures!!! Thats great. What tone of green? A lime green congo would be pretty cool.

Sounds like a good drink.....

[pufferpuggirl]

Well actually I didn't say there WAS a green Congo, but rather was asking if anyone else had heard of a green Congo -- so I don't know what shade it would be, or even if there is such a colour of Congo.

[pufferpuggirl]

It is with much sadness that I have to tell you all that my new red Congo has died. I thought something was funny because it didn't seem to be moving around much, and when I got closer I didn't see any fin movement, so I took my net and nudged the puffer, it didn't move, and I knew it was dead! I removed it from the tank and I can't see any outward signs that would tell me why it's died. I doubt there's anything with the tank because that tank also houses my Abei puffer, which is still alive and well.

So I immediately called the LFS that I got it from to tell them. None of the people that were there yesterday are there today, not that it really makes any difference. So I talked to some guy I've never seen or talked to before. I explained the situation to him and when I was done, his comment was, "well it's been okay with us for the past 2 weeks ..." And I couldn't help but feel that he was insinuating that I had done something wrong to cause the death of this puffer, which peed me off a bit.

The LFS is about 75 miles one way from us, so it's not like I can just run back up there with the puffer. So I've taken the puffer, put it in a plastic bag and placed it in the freezer. Apparently the manager is going to phone me back when he gets out of his meeting. I will not be happy if they don't offer me my money back. With all the puffers I have, I feel that I'm a competent puffer keeper. Who's to say that the puffer didn't have issues and the stress of traveling pushed it and caused it to die? I don't know, but I do know that it cost us about £45 to go up there and get that puffer, so I at least expect the money I paid for it back, which is £25. I will not be a happy camper if they do not offer me a refund. So we will see.

I am crushed that I finally have gotten a red puffer only to have it die on me. And supposing it was my fault, what could I possibly have done between getting it home yesterday, and it having died early this morning???
Especially since there's a healthy puffer still living in that very tank.

I am heart-broken!! What a let-down. Typical for me, I get something nice like that, and then get it yanked away from me the very next day!! big-time depressed.

[diverchic]

I'm sorry to hear that Red didn't make it. Believe me, I don't think anyone on here would entertain the thought that it's death is in any way related to your treatment and care of it! If it didn't eat yesterday when you got it, it was probably already on it's way and you can console yourself that it spent it's last night in a well cared for, decorated, welcoming tank instead of in the lfs.

You def deserve to get your money back!!!

I'll keep my eye out for any puffs down London way that you may like as the bf now does regular(ish) trips up to Manchester and I could get him to take a puffer for you if that helps at all regarding location.

Again, sorry to hear about it as you were sooo excited!

[mrgreen]

I'm sorry. I agree- it doesn't sound like its anything you did. I hope they give you your money back.

[pufferpuggirl]

Thank you both for your kind words of support. Well it's been 2 hours since I called the LFS to report the death of the Congo, and I've not heard anything back from them yet.

I've also been sick since finding out about the Congo and am wondering if I've gotten myself so upset that it's made me throw-up. So I've just been laying on the sofa, even though I have loads to do and about 4 water changes. I'd still be laying down if it weren't for my Pug/Pekingese jumping on me and wanting to play!

I will keep you all posted as to what happens from here. Thank you again for your kindness.