Help Find Me A Fish?

[lilacamy931]

Hey peeps, I am in Dorset, UK and after a congo/miurus/potato puffer. I have tried a lot of local stores and just waiting to hear back from some but most it will be difficult for any guarantees. I have looked on aquarist classifieds and tried tropical fish finder (only listed wildwoods as having one but checked and none in stock currently). Anyone in UK seen one and can guide me? We dont drive but willing to beg the LFS to arrange special courier an such. Any help greatly appreciated

 

[nmonks]

Give the chaps at Maidenhead Aquatics at St Albans a ring. I was up there yesterday and they had a LOT of puffers. I'm sure they had Nile puffers as well as Tetraodon palembangensis, as well as some other freshwater and brackish water Tetraodon. I can't remember if they had Tetraodon miurus, but they had so many puffers in stock that they might have some good contacts that could get you one in.

Cheers, Neale

 

[lilacamy931]

Thanks sooo much Neale Will give a bell! Not sure why but the congo really has caught my attention followed by the baileyi. I will give them a call tomorrow xx

I have been having thoughts between the following puffs just in case congo out of season/ unavailable:

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?

 

[nmonks]

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.

This is Tetraodon miurus. Doesn't do much. Burrows.

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.

Looks prettier in photos. The ones I've seen looked ugly. Each to their own, I guess.

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?

One of the better lurkers. Breedable.

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 ).

Quite small. No more nocturnal than any of the other target puffers, i.e., active at dawn/dusk. Hides as lot.

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

Tetraodon turgidus. Yet another shy target puffer. Much like the others.

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.

Tetraodon cochinchinensis. Has the great virtue of being small, to 7 cm, so keeping a singleton isn't expensive or difficult.

None of these puffers is "exciting" so if this was me, I'd choose the smallest one so I wouldn't mind tying up a whole aquarium to just one fish. There's much to be said in favour of GSPs and the other day-active, actively swimming puffers.

Cheers, Neale

 

[lilacamy931]

Thanks so much for that Neale, really great to get a lowdown I love the GSPs and F8s but really dont want to use salt at this time and still like me plants The smaller puffs Ive done and just not for me and other than salt or smaller cant see other choices...I will have to consider this.

With the suvatti when say one of the better lurkers was that in terms of just breeding or seen more? Sorry to be a ditz

 

[nmonks]

Bit of everything really. They're a species that settles in well, isn't wildly aggressive, and can be kept in groups so breeding is an option.

Cheers, Neale

With the suvatti when say one of the better lurkers was that in terms of just breeding or seen more? Sorry to be a ditz

 

[lilacamy931]

Your knowledge is excellent as always, thank you

 

[Faffer]

Aquatic Design in London usually have a variety of freshwater puffers in stock. When I went on Saturday, they had an abei, along with a couple of other puffers that I haven't seen before.

 

[lilacamy931]

Hey thanks for that Faffer, funnily enough found their number yesterday but couldnt get through so definately try again! St Albans were out but very friendly

 

[silverrabbit]

Ha, I bought the Abei from the Aquatic Design centre. Great healthy fishy! They are amazing for puffs IMO, the lady there knows loads and is really helpful.

Don't pay £40 for the brown puffer, this place had one for £8.95 I think it was, or £12, can't remember now. They also had Cochinchinensis, a palembang, emerald, fahaka and dwarf puffs. Annnd they can order in congo's, as i'm on the list waiting for a red or orange one

 

[lilacamy931]

Thanks for that hon, I could never get through to them unfortunately so it is too late and getting an abei. But considering red congo still. Can you keep me updated on when they get you a congo and how much, be really interested to hear