Are Soft Stones Okay for Congo Puffers?

[pufferjw]

I found another red congo puffer for sale, and I decided to buy it(it's on hold at my LFS, I'll pick it up soon). Right now I have soft stones in my tank, but I was recently told to only put sand in the tank. What are your thoughts?

[Pufferpunk]

They need at least 3" of sand to burrow in.

[pufferjw]

Okay, thanks.

[Pufferpunk]

I don't have my red Congo anymore but this is the substrate I used for her. 75% black sand/25% red gravel, to keep the bright red of the fish.

[pufferjw]

Thank you, I'll purchase some red sand to mix into the tank.

[pufferjw]

Also, my Congo puffer doesn't bury in the sand, he just lies on top of it. Is that normal?

[Pufferpunk]

You have sand in there now? How deep is it? I never met a Congo that didn't bury. It's in the nature of ambush predators.

[pufferjw]

I measured, and I have 3.5 inches of soft, extra fine sand. My Congo puffer just lies on top but never buries himself in it. He also chases shrimp around the tank like my Amazon puffers did, as opposed to ambushing them.

[Pufferpunk]

Give him time without food. I bet he'll bury himself.