Congo puffers

[supersean]

Does anyone know where I can buy a Congo puffer??

[Lil' Swimz$]

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/1326/product.web

Welcome to the forum

Good luck finding one! Ask your local fish store also, that may be cheaper.

[pufferpuggirl]

Not sure about how it is in the US, but over here, you don't see them offered that often.

[supersean]

Thank you for the link I got to wait unil they have it in stock

[pufferpuggirl]

Many puffers are seasonal, and you have to consider where Congo puffers come from in Africa, it's a very volatile area, so I'm sure it's not easy exporting from there.

[supersean]

And should I get a 2.65 gallon tank and raise snails so I can teed it to my puffer?

[pufferpuggirl]

I doubt very seriously that a Congo will eat snails. I actually have 3 different types of snails in with my Congo and they never get eaten. I think someone said their's ate some snails, but I think the majority of Congo owners would say they don't bother the snails. Mine sure don't.

[PolishPuff]

I doubt very seriously that a Congo will eat snails. I actually have 3 different types of snails in with my Congo and they never get eaten. I think someone said their's ate some snails, but I think the majority of Congo owners would say they don't bother the snails. Mine sure don't.

Yeah my congo wont eat snails.

I breed snails in his tank

[supersean]

How about crayfish

[Hierony]

I tried to breed snails in with our Congo, it failed. She hunted the 6 starter Ramshorns I dropped in there within 36hrs. Crayfish they will eat, but our particular puffer is not one to fight for her food. I had to scare the cray right in front of her before she would eat it. Just like any other puffer these guys are all different, but IMO Congo's are possibly the coolest species of puffers out there.

[supersean]

and can you post on what i should be feeding them

[Hierony]

Right now we feed market shrimp and individually frozen silversides. Dentistry is not much of an issue with these guys, so there isn't the vital need for super crunchy foods like with other puffers. I have heard of some people getting their Congos to eat mollusks but I haven't tried ours on any cockles, mussels, scallops, clams, etc... yet.

[supersean]

can i buy the shrimp from walmart or petsmart

[CarmenH]

Yep, just make sure it's raw...

[ryverrat]

I have spoken to a few fish store owners that said the original major exporter in the Congo had passed away a few months back making harder to get fish from that region. A new group is working on setting up export in the region but with the civil war and unrest it is a shaky (IMO insane- that place is seriously dangerous) business undertaking. If you do manage to get a congo give up on trying snails and other crunch foods-they don't really like them. More of a fish eater (NO TANKMATES). Mine will eat raw shrimp and clams (if you shell the clam for him and he is really hunger), silversides, and crayfish (occasionally- I can catch and quarantine them for a few weeks - treat for parasites and give them as a treat with claws removed). One of the easier ways to feed him is I raise mollies- the Dalmatian variety breed like rabbit and I control the conditions so I get clean feeder fish that are not as fatty as gold fish. Have had mine for over 2 years and the beak does not really seemed to have grown at all (he went from 2" fish to 6" in that time).