The Puffer Forum

Right guys, I am loving my gorgeous little Nooki and deciding on the last tank and then swear no more fish (at least that is what i have promised my partner ) having measured the tank it is a 110 litre, the problem? I cant make my mind up! I was pretty set on a congo and only been looking a couple of days but they seem pretty scarce..I have broken down what think could have (being one of the following species solo in this tank), having read the articles in the library and pedia just could do with opinion especially with personality. What do I want out this puff?? I have the fahaka for my active puff needs and guess just want a personable or unusual little fellow. I went to see a store about a congo today but it was a very unhealthy suvatti..

The tank is with about 2 inches of sand, can always add to the mix, mature filter set, resin tree root and some live plants.

1. Congo - unusual looking and these seem pretty attractive to me, know that they burrow a lot of the time though varies with each one, hard to get at the moment and wondering if out of season.

2. Hairy Puff - very cute, dont know a awful lot, there may be a store that has one of these as at first didnt consider because I thought they might be super rare.

3. Suvatti - these are quite cute and actually the easiest avaiable being £13.50 at my local and very healthy, but unsure thinking if a lurker rather the congo..(need convincing!) I have been told these burrow far less than the congos?

4. Abei - available off Wildwoods - pretty decent price, read mostly nocturnal, when it refers to this does it mean lights out completely or just evening hours (reason ask, lights off in tanks but living room light on ).

5. Brown Puffer, Turgedus - again Wildwoods, a little pricey at £40 but then havent bought one before, noted also nocturnal.

There is of course also the fangs though not seen and be confused with target species. Any help or thoughts really appreciated, going to be staying freshwater.

An important question, I have a lovely mature tank set up with filter, only just got rid of the fish in there, how to keep the media alive (I was a little keen on my part). I have frozen prawn that could leave in a net baggy?

p.s. how do you tell say fangs/abei and brown apart, for some reason thought fangs had red spot?
http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/sto ... &prod=2298

Let me just give you a word of warning about buying from Wildwood's. I've bought a few fish from them and I bought a turgidus (Brown puffer) that turned out to be an Abei. They also had what they were calling a leiurus puffer, which I was going to buy, but it turned out to be turgidus. Wildwoods are not very good in providing correct species names for their puffers, so I would keep that in mind. I have had some pretty bad experiences with World of Water, and Wildwood's is part of WoW, so I would also keep that in mind. I have been so disgusted with them that I have vowed never to purchase anything from them ever again. They also have issues with sending out sickly fish .... so be careful.

Thanks for the warning, my only experience of them has been the fahaka and he has been an absolute delight, if could get more locally definately would and still holding out for this week.

You have had pretty much all those puffs hon I know you love them all to bits but are there any recommendations? xx

I would just have to say that all of the puffers you listed, with the exception of the Abei, are rather reserved, not very active. Both my Baileyi and my suvattii rarely move until it's feeding time. My Biscuit, the mini-miurus is buried 99.9% of time, whereas Orangetta, my other Congo, swims around a bit more. I no longer have my turgidus, but he didn't show himself much when I had him, although I've heard other people say theirs come out and about more than mine did.

Both of my Abei's are active though and both definitely appreciate having attention given to them. So if you want something a bit more active, then I would say go for the Abei, but just remember that you cannot put any tankmates in with this puffer at all.

Hope this helps some.

Thanks hon, previously I have gone with really active puffers, I have my gorgeous Nooki for that now, this tank quite happy for a solo puffer to have all the space, doesnt have to be particularly active just cute or unusual lol.

Kind of torn between congo, suvatti and abei. With the Abei my only choice to order would be from wildwoods and wondering how good that will be after what you said..Read that these are more nocturnal, have you just found both of yours fairly active? I have a fairly open tank now with hidey tree roots and somelive plants (as original set on a lurker) but would this be ok for an abei? Sorry if my questions sound insane, locally puffs are so hard to get so either I stick with a suvatti that I have seen or order most of the other puffs from online sources. Really appreciate the help thank you for being patient x

i'm also after another puffer and i've made up my mind that i want a abei ,i've seen the ones that wildwoods have but i'm a bit nervous about having one posted out, hardly any of the fish shops near me keep any puffers.

Well really Amy, my Baileyi mostly hangs out in her terracotta pot, but she will liven up when she knows it's meal time. And the suvattii is even more lethargic. I haven't noticed either of them being extra active at night, but that's just how mine are. I would guess though that between the two of them that the Baileyi is a bit more active. My girl (well I think she's a girl) doesn't have alot of hair on her face, but I've seen some small ones with loads of hair. I wish mine had more hair, but I've had her the longest of all my puffers, so cannot think of replacing her!

Thanks I think I am going to play the waiting game a little bit now and see what sort of replies I get back from the shops I rang and then make a decision lol. One thing that keeps annoying me is a couple of the LFS cant or dont have what you want and then try their utmost to sell what they do have"! For instance one shop went - "We have fahakas - have one of those, mbus - havent the tank room, porcupine - they are marine, ceylons - they need salt, oh and dwarf puffs - thanks but I just want what I have asked for" lol cant say they dont try

At davew sorry forgot to say I got my little fahaka from wildwoods and he is absolutely perfect, the packaging they come in is fantastic and my experience was good of them. It is a risk you take when ordering without seeing a fish and using postal services..