Which figure 8 to choose?

[CarmenH]

I've decided I definitely want one. I've found them at 2 stores and I'm not sure which to buy at, if either...

Store #1- Received them on Monday. They are in fresh water. They are quite small. Most of them look nice and round, though I have the meds and plan on deworming anyhow. Aside from a couple that looked less animated, they are curious and and alert. I see no signs of ich but their fins are quite tattered. They are extremely attractively patterned, quite dark, with brilliant gold marking. Aside from the tattered fins, they look great. The girl who was working yesterday said that if I called in the morning to let them know what time I was coming, they would hold off feeding until I got there to make sure I got one that was a good eater.

Store #2- Received them Monday as well. The guy said they were in brackish, then sheepishly admitted that they just add regular aquarium salt but that that was "better than nothing". (He's a cool guy, into puffs, and I think he was trying to be a good employee but didn't approve). The puffs are bigger, and several of them are quite round, but a higher percentage are very thin. They have no fin damage at all. They are MUCH lighter in color, especially their bellies, but it doesn't look happy-puffer white, it looks almost washed out. There were a couple animated ones, but most looked depressed. Nowhere near as attractive as the other ones.

So I'm pretty sure buying from store 2 would be a bad idea, but am I wrong? And the tattered fins at store # 1...I was reading an article (RTR's?) and it said tattered fins were no big deal on an otherwise healthy f-8? Or should I hold out for 100% perfect ones? Does that happen?

[Pufferpunk]

Go for the tattered fins. Easily fixed with clean water & Melafix. I like to start my fish out smaller too.

[pufferpuggirl]

And the thing about smaller ones, they are more adaptable, whereas I think the bigger ones, having been caught wild, are less able to adapt to living in captivity. That's just my feeling about it though.

[Ohyouknow]

Although I've never owned a F8, I think I have to +1 both PP and PPG. (+2?)

[CarmenH]

Thanks guys, that's what my heart was telling me but I didn't want it leading my brain astray...as usual...