The Puffer Forum

Hi,

I'm planning to get either a red congo puffer or hairy puffer for my FW, 24" x 18" x 18". My questions are

1) Is it advisable to put my hands in as I used to do it regularly with my Dwarf puffers. Will they bite?
2) should they bite, is it toxic? Or to be treated like all superficial wounds?
3) I know congo do not have teething problems. How about the hairy?
4) I know they will eat other fishes but would a couple of neons help to keep it occupied, or that's simply sadistic?

1. As with all puffers, they have the potential to bite.
2. Their bites are not toxic.. At most they chew off a sizeable chunk.. Secondary infection is what u need to worry, ie all the nasties that u can't see in the tank.
3. Not sure about hairy..
4. Sadistic in a way.. But they can help a little as clean up crew..

You have access to a RED Congo??? They're very hard to find! How much?
Mine bit my husband a couple of times.

I vote hairy

if I could find a red congo, I would empty a tank for it. just my opinion on choice.

Well, i probably will place an order as they don't come in often. However, from what i've seen in the past, the prices for puffers in Singapore are around these range

Red Congo Puffer - USD$55 (doesn't come in often, so i may be wrong)
2 inches Fahaka - USD $10
5 inches Mbu - UDS $50-55
4 inches Hairy - USD $30
Dwarf Puffers - USD $0.5
GSP - UDS $2

Excellent prices!

Lucky! Also how is the hairy doing pictures?

Hairy's been sold.. Btw, for puffers that like burying themselves in DSB, would the fine powdery type be better or the slightly coarser ones, ie bits of 1-2mm

If it's too fine when they keep burrowing, u may have a hard time keeping the water clear..

Red Congo no doubt I would go buy a full new set up for one if I could get one. My suvattii never ever goes for my hand I can basically touch him but I keep a little distance they can move very quick.

Guys, I'm buying sand for the congo puffer tank.

1) how fine or coarse should the sand be? We have from no 0 to no 5, 0 being powder fine ones.
2) can I use coral sand no 1?

Kindly advise.

Just get sand from lfs

??? to defool89. A good LFS should have a variety of sands from sugar sand to approximately blasting sand sizes. Fine/small sand may well be a hazard to impellers if not well prefiltered. Sand size depends on what the set-up needs.

Lol yes, lfs sand. Theirs a variety of sand I know. Although I dont credit lfs on anything, sand usually comes in abundance. I dont know grain sizes roughness etc. but if you just look, you can narrow your search fast by feeling it. Youll know what I mean when you get there.