First time potential puffer keeper, advice appreciated!

[mrs.som]

Flutter, I don't know yet, it's killing me! I am moving on Friday to Michigan and I'm not sure what the LFS will have. I am tempted to call them ahead of time and see but I hate talking to people on phone (silly I know). The store I'm interested seems to be very well reviewed and looks amazing from the pictures I've seen. Hopefully they'll have a good selection and will not mind giving me some used bio media from their brackish tanks.
I am sad to be moving away from my home region and my friends/family so this tank planning is helping distract me from all that...kinda bittersweet.

[mrs.som]

Hmm, clearly I have too much time on my hands even though I'm moving in three days, lol.
I got to thinking about what Soggydrysuit said below:

Not too big, you say and fw preferable.

Hmm - what about one of the 'target group'? Six to eight inches of pure character

I was looking around some more and saw some pics of the Abei puffers some of the members have here and think I may change my mind on the "target group"

Anyone have an argument for or against the Abei, especially for a beginner?

Thanks!

[pufferpuggirl]

Just keep in mind that an Abei is only going to get like 4" long .... so that's a small puffer in a huge tank (if you put him in the 55-gal). But can't say anything "bad" about them at all. Very attractive puffer, mine loves to eat!

[soggydrysuit]

I'd chuck my Clarius catfish out of it's tank to make room for any of the target puffers!

I'm not being nasty - the Clarius needs a bigger tank anyway because it's growning at the expected astonishing rate. Might just see how it gets on with the other beasties in my stock vat. For now

Target puffs are fw (no need for salt on huge water changes), very pretty and total loonies. That would do it for me If you can find one of course

[mrs.som]

Ok, before all this continues I think I might just have to buckle down and call the LFS I have in mind!
That would probably help narrow things down a bit
Thanks for the input so far!

[mrs.som]

Well I called the place that is about 10 min. from our new apt. and they have "Pea Puffers", an "Avocado Puffer" (Modestus or Nefastus, who knows?) and one F8.
The other place I called, about 1hr 10min from our place has GSPs, F8s and a "Fuji" (had to correct her with Fugu, how embarrassing!)
So...unless I plan on ordering, I think I'm going to go with F8s by default I like the Modestus/Nefastus but they are a little small and fierce to be taking up a whole 55 gallon!

[pufferpuggirl]

Over here in England an "avocado puffer" is usually a cutcutia puffer.

[mrs.som]

Oh yeah, just saw "cutcutia" in the Library, who knows, they all seem to be referred to in various sources (darn internetz!) as the common/avocado puffer.

[pufferpuggirl]

That's why it's always best to get a latin name if you can, that way there can be little confusion about what you're getting.

[mrs.som]

Yeah, I think I'll have to wait till I get there in person for the latin names, the poor sales guy had a very thick accent and even had trouble pronouncing "Figure 8"...