The Puffer Forum

DMD123 wrote:Is this the same 'piggy' that thought it needed some 'finger foods'?

Umm, weellll, yes

Been bit a few times by large cichlids and drew blood but nothing like that. I have a pretty tame bunch of fish so a puffer will keep me on my toes. Just need to be aware where my hands are and were the puffer is. But then they are surprisingly fast...

My very large parrot cichlid thinks she can gum me to death.

I use plastic forceps to feed now, and keep a very, very close eye on him whilst I'm cleaning him out. It's my daily dice with death.

He has a heck of a lot of personality though, I wouldn't swap him for the world.

Stratters wrote:He has a heck of a lot of personality though, I wouldn't swap him for the world.

That being said, if you had to do it all over again would you still pick a hairy puffer or another?

Like I said I have access to a hairy puffer, at a high cost or I can try and wait it out for one of the other lurkers on my list....

I had another Hairy, Spud, very briefly. I fell in love with him at the LFS, and it took me 2 months of lurking on here, reassuring myself that I'd be able to care for him proper, before I plucked up the courage to buy him. Unfortunately, he was incorrectly transferred to the 'going home bag', and puffed air.

I had so much help on here, but unfortunately lost him. By then I was so besotted by them, I managed to get another Hairy on order via another (infinitely better) LFS, and my ex husband bought him as a gift. I'd always go for a Hairy now, but appreciate that his beauty is somewhat in the eye of the beholder. Piggy has so much personality though, the whole family loves him, even the ex asks how he is and wants photos/videos of him.

He is one cool puff.

Yes, I am completely besotted with Piggy, I absolutely adore him, even if I do have a missing bit of finger

Nice answer, your puffer was secretly listen in and piggy approves

I have had very personable cichlids over the years and never doubted being able to take care of them. But when it comes to puffers I too just have that feeling of doubt, like they would be too much to handle. Dont know why but I do. So I appreciate hearing all the stories and rewarding experiences you guys have with your puffers. I am a water change fanatic, and have very clean tanks so I dont know why Im so worried. I just need to find that one special puffer....

If you like to do heavy maintenance on your tanks and house high personality fish, puffers are for you. But yes watch your hands, I bear several nasty scars from my fahaka, he could move 5 feet in about a second and sink his teeth into me. But you know what? I was messing with his tank so I should've been more careful and I soon learnt, I loved that fish.

I hate dirty tanks and have regular maintenance time with the fish in each. Looks like a puffer is perfect for me. At the moment I need to deal with a few grow outs, sell off a fish or two and still find my puffer.

Spotted a Congo at one of the local stores. It seemed very active in a planted tank hunting down little guppies. It was a bit bland looking with just a pale brown color to it. If it were one of the really red ones, it probably would have made its way home with me.

I'm pretty happy with my dull brown Tatertot. Of course he was free...

Tatertot is cool looking! Not free in may case. This Congo is $50 and a 45 minute drive away. The hairy is $70 + $25 shipping. I think between the two I would pick the hairy. It was pretty cool looking. They also have a dragon for $25 and $25 in shipping....

I think I am down to the Arrowhead or Hairy puffer as my top choices.

My lfs has some turgidus and they do sell stuff online... The poor little puffs have been there for a few weeks wish I had a big enough tank for all 3

Sad when they sit in the store instead of a good home. One shop had a Arrowhead for at least six months that was being sustained on feeder goldfish. I never did go back to see if they sold it.