New Puffer

[Hierony]

Well, Badjuujuu and I were surfing Craig's List a few nights ago and came across a 37 gallon tank with a stand for a good price. Being as we are in a cramped apartment with no room, two fish tanks, a snail tank, and two crabs, we decided to go pick it up. Since joining this forum and begin to understand the joys of puffers I have really wanted a T. miurus. We decided to set up our new tank to house one of these super interesting puffers. Have it up and running it's going through a cycling process now, it is the food container in the picture it is holding our shrimp. I found a pair of Congo's at a shop about five hours away, and they are willing to hold them for me for a bit while the tank finishes up cycling. Anyhow just really excited and wanted to share a picture of how the tank is set up.


P.S. The mystery snail came with the tank.

[Pufferpunk]

I would not keep 2 Cogos together in there.

[Hierony]

Oh no, sorry, lol. I only commented on the 2 because I called about 50 shops before I found ANY and this store happened to have 2. Only going to pick up 1.

[Pufferpunk]

That's good!

[pufferpuggirl]

Yeah before I really knew what I was doing I tried to keep 2 Congos together and it ended with disastrous results.
But miurus puffers are very interesting, although not the most active of puffers. Do you know what colour you will be getting yet?
Can't wait to see some pictures, love seeing the Congo puffers!

[xrayjeeper83]

thats a nice looking tank. What is in the tupperware container?

[Hierony]

I talked to the store and it sounds like they have a Creamish/Yellow one and a Brown one with some Red. I'm hoping when I see the brown one it is more reddish and possibly the pink in the substrate could bring out some brilliant colors, but I would be very happy with the cream one as well. I am very excited to work with this amazing ambush predator.

The tupperware has pieces of shrimp in it. We got the tank used, but changed the substrate and had to clean it up quite a bit. The guy had a couple of cichlids in the tank, but it had an awful smell to it. So, we bought some starter bacteria and added it with the shrimp ... now just waiting to see how the cycle goes. Right now Ammonia: 0.50 Nitrite: 0.50 and Nitrate: 10-20, hopefully my mid next week the cycle will finish up.

The only downside to this is the miurus is at a store five hours away. We've bought a power inverter for the car to run a bubbler, have an 18g Rubbermaid™ tub, planning on taking a 5g bucket of fresh water and the tub about half full and doing a water change half way back. We usually use an API de-chlorinater/chloramine but picked up Prime yesterday to try and neutralize his waste on the way back. I'm also going to call the store a few days before I can make it down to see if they'll avoid feeding. Any other tips to make the trip safe for everyone?

[pufferpuggirl]

Puffers are more hardy than you might think. The bubbler is a good idea, ,keeping up the oxygen, but really, I wouldn't worry too much about doing a water change, might stress him out more than he needs to be. Shield him from direct sun and you should be good to go.

I have 2 different coloured miurus. My mini Biscuit is a pinkish colour and Orangetta is VERY orange, almost red. But I would love them at any colour. Apparently there's a green variety and that would be way cool!

[Ohyouknow]

oohh, I just HAD to comment... I love the name you gave your light tan congo BISCUIT! I love it.

Have you thought of any names yet, Hierony? or waiting till you meet it?

[pufferpuggirl]

Here's my mini Biscuit

rs Biscuit.jpg

Wow, I just looked and I got Biscuit exactly one year ago today! Happy Anniversary Biscuit, my mini miurus!

[Badjuujuu]

Biscuit is really cute and really fits the name! We haven't thought of a name yet, Hierony wants to name it after we see the little cutie! I am so excited to get the little guy home and see him bury himself for the first time. I agree that these are not the cutest puffers but I think they are super cute in their own way. I think they have grown on me a lot. Hierony told me he wanted one of these when we got our first GSP and I thought then, "boy those aren't every cute" but now I look at picture and say "Awwwww, he is sooo cute!".

[Ohyouknow]

haha cute I can't wait to see Hierony & Badjuujuu's new mirius

[Hierony]

Well tested the water tonight. Ammonia: 0.25; Nitrite: 0.25; Nitrate: 80. Hoping to drive to Houston on Wednesday to pick one of the fish up, but got an email back from a LFS that might be able to order one this week. I would rather not drive five hours, so I hope he can!

[Myaj]

How exciting, and the tank is cycling nicely for you it looks like.

If you do have to make the drive, a clean cooler might work better than a rubbermaid tub, the insulation will help avoid big temperature swings. There is an article in the library with tips on transporting fish, too, if you need more ideas.

[Hierony]

Thanks all! Went down today and picked her up, Peaches, in the process of acclimating now!

Myaj - We ended up using a styrofoam box the shop had and he bagged her in giant trash can size bags.

She looks great! After she gets in her new home I'll take some pics and put them up. I was thrilled yesterday morning when I woke up and had a beautiful yellow and blue for Ammonia/Nitrite readings.

Here are some pics.
When she calms down I hope to get some shots of her peaceful colors. She was much more "pink/peachy" at the shop.