Need help making a hard decison

[trever22]

I always liked puffers but I also always had a fascination with SW. I had a 10 gallon salt in the past which I took down a few months ago and I have nothing now. I have pretty much everything I need for saltwater because I plan on setting up a tank soon. I was pretty much set for going with a 9 gallon with a 5 gallon sump and just getting an angler. I owned anglers in the past and boy they are interesting. Its just not always easy taking care of a SW tank especially in such a small tank like I want to.

Now I am thinking maybe a congo puffer. I would obviously have to get a bigger tank then initially planned but it could probably work. Im just not sure which I would rather have, an angler or a congo. The SW setup would end up costing more in the end but you can do so much more with a SW tank. But a congo puffer is awesome also.

I remember reading that congos dont do good in "new" tanks and they require something preferably over 6 months old. Why is that?

Im just confused what to do lol

[Arny]

Whats an angler? A frogfish?

[*GSP*Fan*]

Whats an angler? A frogfish?

These are what came to mind when I read angler

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aqua ... fm?c=15+19

Any fish site I've noticed the section is usually angler/frogfish. Not sure if its a common name for both or what though.

I've came across the wartskin before and have wanted one since. I had been reading a bit on them lately as I have a free tank that would be large enough for one.

Edit: Just realized liveaquaria has the warkskin in stock too...

I was pretty much set for going with a 9 gallon with a 5 gallon sump and just getting an angler.

I don't believe that size tank is large enough for any angler. I've read a bit on them lately, being interested in the warkskin, and I believe a 20g-30g or similar is recommended for even the smaller anglers, like the wartskin. I know they are pretty stationary fish but would assume that would come down to water quality and their size as well. Unless I've missed something somewhere I've not seen that small of a tank used or recommended.

I know next to nothing about the congos, just what little I've read here, so I can't help you there.

[trever22]

Whats an angler? A frogfish?

These are what came to mind when I read angler

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aqua ... fm?c=15+19

Any fish site I've noticed the section is usually angler/frogfish. Not sure if its a common name for both or what though.

I've came across the wartskin before and have wanted one since. I had been reading a bit on them lately as I have a free tank that would be large enough for one.

Edit: Just realized liveaquaria has the warkskin in stock too...

I was pretty much set for going with a 9 gallon with a 5 gallon sump and just getting an angler.

I don't believe that size tank is large enough for any angler. I've read a bit on them lately, being interested in the warkskin, and I believe a 20g-30g or similar is recommended for even the smaller anglers, like the wartskin. I know they are pretty stationary fish but would assume that would come down to water quality and their size as well. Unless I've missed something somewhere I've not seen that small of a tank used or recommended.

I know next to nothing about the congos, just what little I've read here, so I can't help you there.

Yes frogfish angler same thing. As for tank size its fine. I had an angler in a 10 gallon and it was WAY too big to feed him. I am positive it will be fine.

[eieio]

congo puffers do fine in any tank that is properly cycled, new or old
they're great fish!

[trever22]

Im watching videos of congos now and they seem so awesome. If I got one would a 20L be a good setup and what kind of filtration? (HOB, Canister) also what filter material.

[eieio]

Im watching videos of congos now and they seem so awesome. If I got one would a 20L be a good setup and what kind of filtration? (HOB, Canister) also what filter material.

20 long is great
i use Fluval canister filters for all my tanks (quiet, reliable, and easy to maintain), but other types & brands can be used as well
filters are one of those personal preference items
my 20 gallon Congo tank has a Fluval 205 filter, does the job just fine
nothing fancy necessary for media
i use the fluval media that came with the filter and "filter fluff" that gets replaced periodically
regular water changes and vaccuming and sand stirring, of course
steady temperature and a varied diet
no live feeders from the retail stores ever!

[trever22]

Im watching videos of congos now and they seem so awesome. If I got one would a 20L be a good setup and what kind of filtration? (HOB, Canister) also what filter material.

20 long is great
i use Fluval canister filters for all my tanks (quiet, reliable, and easy to maintain), but other types & brands can be used as well
filters are one of those personal preference items
my 20 gallon Congo tank has a Fluval 205 filter, does the job just fine
nothing fancy necessary for media
i use the fluval media that came with the filter and "filter fluff" that gets replaced periodically
regular water changes and vaccuming and sand stirring, of course
steady temperature and a varied diet
no live feeders from the retail stores ever!

I have a reefkeeper lite (for SW) that keeps the temperature exactly at what you set it at. If that works for FW (I dont see why it wouldnt) then that would be perfect. I also just got some of that stuff that you get from pillows (that stuffing stuff) that I can use as filter material.

Also what do you mean no live feeders o.O

That was going to be one of the fun parts of owning one.

[eieio]

a congo puffer is a rather reclusive fish, and i don't think will appreciate bright lighting at all
it may stress it
feeder fish from the retail store may have parasites
congo puffers quickly become spoiled on eating feeders, and can be very difficult to wean off of a live fish diet
and you have to be careful to make sure that they are nutritious feeder fish, without being too fatty
goldfish are a no-go
an occasional home-grown guppy or platy or (?) is OK, but best to stick to a varied diet of other foods
yes, indeed, it is fun to watch them eat "live" food, but in the long run, it's better to feed a good variety of "dead" food to keep them healthy
bear in mind, congo puffers are a (usually) rather shy & retiring fish that remains buried up to it's eyes in the substrate the majority of the time
if something exciting is what you have in mind, you might want to re-think this choice

[trever22]

a congo puffer is a rather reclusive fish, and i don't think will appreciate bright lighting at all
it may stress it
feeder fish from the retail store may have parasites
congo puffers quickly become spoiled on eating feeders, and can be very difficult to wean off of a live fish diet
and you have to be careful to make sure that they are nutritious feeder fish, without being too fatty
goldfish are a no-go
an occasional home-grown guppy or platy or (?) is OK, but best to stick to a varied diet of other foods
yes, indeed, it is fun to watch them eat "live" food, but in the long run, it's better to feed a good variety of "dead" food to keep them healthy
bear in mind, congo puffers are a (usually) rather shy & retiring fish that remains buried up to it's eyes in the substrate the majority of the time
if something exciting is what you have in mind, you might want to re-think this choice

I think you are confused by "reefkeeper lite" its an aquarium controller not a light. Also what should its main diet be then? Im also open to other people opinions. Also as for excitement I think it will be fun, remember its between a congo puffer and an angler. neither are very "outgoing"

[Pufferpunk]

All my Congo will eat are earthworms & fish.

[eieio]

mine eats (on a rotating basis): chunks of frozen defrosted shrimp, chunks of frozen/defrosted clam, live gut-loaded crickets, frozen/defrosted krill, home-grown guppies (occasionally), and i'm still trying to get her to eat earthworms (no success yet)

[Pufferpunk]

All my others I was able to get on dead foods. Not this stubborn one.

[trever22]

All my others I was able to get on dead foods. Not this stubborn one.

As for water do you just use tap and then do you use like prime or something to get the chlorine out? Do you measure your water with a TDS meter to see what it is?

I just want to do this the best I can. Oh, and also as for sand do I just want to use play sand that is like sold at lowes or something?

[Pufferpunk]

Tap with Prime. Fish don't care about TDS.