The Puffer Forum

Do you remember that good old saying, "when it rains, it pours!"

How true it is too. As some of you may already know, I went and got a red Congo puffer yesterday .... and it died this morning early! So much for me having a red Congo. Now, it's also looking like the tank that my Baileyi puffer is in has a leak because the carpet is very damp and I can see the water level going down. It's not a fast leak, but still very worrying in case it becomes a bigger leak because I do not know where I would put my Baileyi, it's not like I can just put him in with any other fish. And I don't have any more dividers, so I'm going to have to get another tank.

My husband went bi-polar on me this evening also. He was all lovey-dovey towards me because of the red Congo dying, but as soon as I mentioned that I need a couple of fish tanks, he went postal on me! Sheesh!

Thing is, I'm going to have to get a couple of tanks, whether I want to or not. I have no choice. I will need to get Baileyi in another tank before the one he's in decides to really leak, and besides that (as if that wasn't enough), on Tuesday, 8 September, I am due to get 32 red-claw crabs, whether I'm ready or not, they will be arriving at my door. So I need to get a tank for them as well. I'm just looking to get 2 cheap tanks, nothing fancy, I can get fancy at a later date. I just want cheap right now, and easy to acquire. So if anyone's in the Sheffield/Worksop area and has some cheap tanks available, let me know.

On a happier, funnier note .... I moved around some of my puffers today. After the red Congo died, I witnessed my two turgidus puffers fighting. I thought I had seen new battle scars on them, but wasn't sure ... now I know why I'm seeing them. They were the ones that kept getting together through the divider, so I just finally put them in the same tank. They seemed okay for a while, but the honeymoon must have ended. What I ended up doing was to move both the turgidus to another tank with a divider in it, but one they can't get over, it WILL keep them apart. And I moved my Abei into a bigger tank where he can swim around since he seems to enjoy swimming about and the turgidus just seem to hang out. The funny part is that the Abei could see himself in the glass and he was puffing up and his spots were really coming out. I could not believe how big he made himself. But it was funny because I was stand there watching him and when he looked at me, he would burp out the water and deflate. But then he would go to one particular place in the tank and that's where he would inflate himself again, and those spots really stood out when he would do that. He's a cute little puffer, full of himself. But in light of all that's gone on today (not forgetting that I was sick this morning too), my Abei made me laugh, and I find myself smiling when I think about him puffing up.

What a day, I never did do all the water changes I had intended to do. I will just have to add it to tomorrow's agenda. I think tonight is going to be a curl up on the sofa and be lazy night -- if the dogs will allow me to have any space on the sofa!!

Whew. If you can wait another day, I'm with you on having a nice couch night! I'm about ready to head there myself for a nap. I only got 3 hours of sleep last night and its catching up with me quickly.

As a side note, your husband is just being a man. I'm bipolar and its not the same as being a man- although men can have it too. hehe

I guess I can understand your husband's reaction. Unless he shares your passion (or even if he does), he may be uncomfortable with the costs, the space issues, etc.

I'm really sorry about your Congo. What a drag - you get such a beautiful, rare thing and it dies so quickly! That's sad.

Yes, but let me just say one thing in regards to my husband's bi-polar reaction -- it's not like I just "want" a couple of new tanks, it's more a matter of NEEDING them now. He knew I had ordered the crabs nearly a month ago, and he promised me he'd get me a tank. And as for Baileyi's tank, well that's just one of those things. I would have been happy to only be needing one tank, but I absolutely cannot put Baileyi in with any of my other fish, unless I want a massacre -- which I do not.

Yeah, I am very bummed out about the red Congo, been wanting it for so long .... but I still have my lovely orange female and I should be happy with her, and maybe this is a lesson to myself -- to appreciate what I have and stop getting more puffers!!

Honestly I think the only puffer that could sway me now would have to be a Schoutedeni. If someone told me I could have one of those puffers, I'd find a way to get one. They are a bit like my "dream puffer", and as they look so much like a MBU, only staying small, it would be the perfect puffer for me!

schismy007 wrote:Yes, but let me just say one thing in regards to my husband's bi-polar reaction -- it's not like I just "want" a couple of new tanks, it's more a matter of NEEDING them now. He knew I had ordered the crabs nearly a month ago, and he promised me he'd get me a tank. And as for Baileyi's tank, well that's just one of those things. I would have been happy to only be needing one tank, but I absolutely cannot put Baileyi in with any of my other fish, unless I want a massacre -- which I do not.

Well, if he had said okay before, then, yeah, that's very different.

Any clue as to why the new Congo died?

Oh no! And you were so happy to get him...

I'm so sorry for your loss - but you are right, you still have many other beauties to look after and love!

Hey schismy007, if it makes you feel any better, the EXACT SAME THING happened to me just last week... my brand new (been running less than a month) 200G tank sprung a small leak, and to make matters worst, the idiots from the shop who came up to empty my tank, and decor SCRATCHED the front panel and are now denying that they caused it!!! which really pissed me off since lets be honest, who's going to go scratch their own brand new tank that cost over USD $6000!!!

now all my fish are going to be cramped in tiny buttocks quarters for the next 2 weeks while i wait for the silicone to dry at which point i can start cycling my tank all over again which will take another 2 weeks min...

So i completely understand where your coming from, since during this period i had to move my congo into a small tank at which point he almost died on me, but luckily enough i caught him in time and moved him back into his original tank so he/she is now getting better although has developed a case of Ick....

Any way, just wanted to let you know it wasn't only pouring on your end of the world, but mine as well!!! although i have to admit, your taking it a lot better than i am...

Hi Mark (marksrush) - No, no idea why it died. I've still got the frozen body in my freezer, but I'm not going to cut it open, it's dead and nothing will bring it back. Really could be any number of things that contributed to it's death.

Thank you ittybittyfishy - yes, I am going to concentrate on the puffers I have now.

Thank you Homer for sharing your experience with me, although I think you have more reason to be upset than I do. Heck, I'd be really pissed if someone scratched up my new tank too -- and companies NEVER admit when they are wrong, it's just easier to blame it on the customer rather than take responsibility. I think of all the puffers I've had to deal with, the Congo seems to be one of the less hardy ones and somewhat difficult to keep (just my opinion of course). You did make me smile though when you mentioned "now all my fish are going to be cramped in tiny buttocks quarters for the next 2 weeks ....." Hope you don't mind me laughing at that, but "tiny buttocks quarters"? Hee hee.

Redspotowner -- thanks for all those lovely hugs, much appreciated.

In fact, everyone has been so kind and supportive about my red Congo dying, and I really and truly appreciate it very much. It's nice to have people who understand my loss and are there to help me get through it. As corny as this may sound, this forum is a little like "a family" and I feel I can tell all of you my concerns and feelings about my puffers -- thanks to everyone!

^ Glad to hear my "buttocks" comment made you feel a little better...

Got a few showers here myself. Good luck to all 3 of you.

Maybe a long shot but does your tank that sprung a leak have a hang on the back filter? I was convinced that my tank had a slow leak but i couldn't find it anywhere, it turns out that it was dripping really slowly from my HOB filter.

No, I wish it was as simple as a hang-on filter. But thanks for trying to help.

Hi schismy007 ,

Sorry for your loss, i saw a advert at wharf aquatics today for a 4ft tank for £80..theres some others too,so if ur interested just give them a call and ask about the adverts in the window.