The Puffer Forum

Chiming in for the first time to share my sympathy. I'm sad for you, and frustrated at the circumstances that the pet store owner helped create.

Perhaps he's a nice guy, but didn't do right by the fish he sold, nor did he do right by his customer. He didn't seem to know or care to provide you with adequate information for Puffy's high-maintenance care. And you shouldn't have had to tell him to cover the tank upon Puffy's return... he should know at least that much about the fish he stocks.

You truly did do the honorable, responsible, kind thing by offering Puffy the chance to have a better life in a more suitable environment. Please don't beat yourself up because of what happened. You'll learn from the situation and be able to provide your cichlid and other fish a better life than you could've before.

Thinking good, healing thoughts for you.

c333davis wrote:Chiming in for the first time to share my sympathy. I'm sad for you, and frustrated at the circumstances that the pet store owner helped create.

Perhaps he's a nice guy, but didn't do right by the fish he sold, nor did he do right by his customer. He didn't seem to know or care to provide you with adequate information for Puffy's high-maintenance care. And you shouldn't have had to tell him to cover the tank upon Puffy's return... he should know at least that much about the fish he stocks.

You truly did do the honorable, responsible, kind thing by offering Puffy the chance to have a better life in a more suitable environment. Please don't beat yourself up because of what happened. You'll learn from the situation and be able to provide your cichlid and other fish a better life than you could've before.

Thinking good, healing thoughts for you.

thankyou

You did what you thought was the right thing for your fish & what we've been begging you to do all along. It's not your fault.

Why did you go back & get Monster? So now you have the cichlid, pleco & 2 guppies in the 10g?

Pufferpunk wrote:You did what you thought was the right thing for your fish & what we've been begging you to do all along. It's not your fault.

Why did you go back & get Monster? So now you have the cichlid, pleco & 2 guppies in the 10g?

no just a cichlid and pecso in the ten gallion and two guppys in the three gallion i wouldnt dear put guppys in with monster they would be lunch for him and it just feel right with out him with me i had a horable feeling about what i did thats why i went back and got him

So, now that you realize how much you love him, what will you do for a bigger tank for him?

Pufferpunk wrote:So, now that you realize how much you love him, what will you do for a bigger tank for him?

well right now his just fine and very happy in the ten gallion so im going to leave it right there if he out grows the tank then well think of something

Fish don't outgrow a tank, they get stunted.

Pufferpunk wrote:Fish don't outgrow a tank, they get stunted.

oh

well its really all i can do right now im not going to take him back to the pet shop because of what happend earlyer not cool

heres another questiong if the fish cant get biger then how do the insides get biger its not logicely posable for that to happen is it

the fish is stunted, its insides dont keep growing

Stunting fish will lower it's life span tremendously. Cichlids can live into their teens. I doubt it will live 1/4 that long in a 10g, especially with a pleco that can reach 18"..

hermionejane, imagine if someone put you into a small closet that you had to sit down in, to live the rest of your life. In addition, they wrapped your feet and hands in bandages so that they could never grow. In a human sense, this is what we do when we put fish into a tank that is too small. The biology is different but the comparison is valid.

Sweetie, I know you're trying to do what's right, and you have a soft heart and love your cichlid. If you leave it in that tank for very much longer then it's cruelty. Think about that.

I agree, but at the moment you have no choice.

I'd be happy with him for as long as it lives.. maybe 6 months - 1 year. If longer you are lucky.