i got mine from shark aquarium too, there is one rainbow wolf for $30, that grows to 8" and redish brown... and they have like 12 commons wolves that have very dark skin color $20 each. If you want a common wolf but want it to stay around 12" they have Hoplias microlepis that are same as hoplias malabaricus, you cannot tell the difference until it outgrows 12". But Micro used to be $40 now its $60 each.
For a first timer, why don't you try a few mala wolves for the 180, their cost effective, size efficient, potentially vicious, have a nice toothy scowl, and can be housed together.
