Congo Puffer

[EleanorM]

This is a 3 parter I guess?  and my first post here!

Quick background:

A friend is moving to a new apartment that does not allow aquariums.  She has offered me her Congo Puffer at a very reasonable price.

My apartment allows aquariums less than 10 gallons, so I have a few Fluval Flex 9 gallon and Spec set ups.

Tank 1: (CPD)

Tank 2: Ember Tetras:

Tank 3: mostly irrelevant, Blue Diamond/lShrimp & Mosquito Rasboras

the first 2 above are 9 gallons, the third is a 5.

Question 1). The spotted Congo Puffer is presently in 15.5 gallon, is a 9 gallon flex sufficient space?

Question 2) the 9 gallon aquariums presently have in  (1) 12+ CPD and 20+ Bloody Mary Shrimp, a nerite snail, and pond snails. In (2) there are 12+ ember tetra, I have no idea how many Amano shrimp a nerite snail and pond snails. Will the Congo Puffer be happy in either / be unlikely to mass murder the current inhabitants?

Question 3) Due to time constraints, I can buy/ set up a new Flex but I will not have time to cycle it normally.  If I use a bunch of the plant substrate from the established tanks and poach rock, filter media, and plants from the existing set ups, would I be mostly safe to do a fish-in cycle?  I’ve never attempted one before.

Thanks I’m advance,

-Eleanor

[Theplatymaster]

congo puffers grow too larger for these tank sizes, they get around 10in.

[The endler guy]

Is it a Congo or spotted Congo (spotted look like typical puffers and stay small, as well as being shoaling, regular Congo puffers are ambush puffers)

[EleanorM]

It is a spotted Congo (Tetraodon Schoutedeni)  it is supposed to max out at about 2-3 inches she said.  Thanks for the clarifying questions!  I hope this is enough more to get additional insight.

I can ask her to send a photo maybe if that’s helpful?

Edited February 14, 2023 by EleanorM
Additional clarification

[Gannon]

On 2/13/2023 at 9:19 PM, EleanorM said:

It is a spotted Congo (Tetraodon Schoutedeni)  it is supposed to max out at about 2-3 inches she said.  Thanks for the clarifying questions!  I hope this is enough more to get additional insight.

I can ask her to send a photo maybe if that’s helpful?

I haven't kept them! But when I spoke to a fish store in Dallas they said they wouldn't keep it in anything less than 20 gallons and would prefer a bit larger. That's all I know on this subject, but i figured I would still offer this info!

[EleanorM]

Thanks for all the feedback, I have sadly taken a pass on this fish because I don’t have an appropriate home and it is against the terms of my lease to get a more appropriate home (more than 9 gallons…)