Can Mbu puffer be pellet trained?

[Jenerik]

So you did not realize this when your are trying to house a probable 24inch+ african freshwater shellfish carnivore with specialized hunting habitats which is typically a primary specimen fish for a 500gallon+ tank ? I suggest you return it, I certainly do not see a dilemma but a lack of appropriate research. Is it an African arrowana its housed with ? Heterotis niloticus ? I doubt it.

You know what? There are not that many of us that successfully keep large Mbu (I assume you do?...) but the question I always ask myself whenever I see posts like yours, the whole "You should know better" or "Didn't you do your research ahead of time?"-thing, is "How does this benefit the fish?".

The TS apparently already has the fish and nothing you or I do is likely to change that, so rather than telling the guy he made a huge mistake (and haven't we all at some point or another?), why not use some of your experience to guide him in the right direction rather than just blasting the guy? Do you think is puffer is going to be better off by you jumping down his throat? Do you think the puffer is going to get better care if he returns it to some crappy local fish place? I know that no Mbu I have ever seen in a fish store looked as good as mine.

Pointing out everything a person does wrong is easy. Anyone can do that because it requires no effort on their part. Personally, I would rather show someone how they can improve their situation but maybe that is just me.

 

[E.C.]

You know what? There are not that many of us that successfully keep large Mbu (I assume you do?...) but the question I always ask myself whenever I see posts like yours, the whole "You should know better" or "Didn't you do your research ahead of time?"-thing, is "How does this benefit the fish?".

The TS apparently already has the fish and nothing you or I do is likely to change that, so rather than telling the guy he made a huge mistake (and haven't we all at some point or another?), why not use some of your experience to guide him in the right direction rather than just blasting the guy? Do you think is puffer is going to be better off by you jumping down his throat? Do you think the puffer is going to get better care if he returns it to some crappy local fish place? I know that no Mbu I have ever seen in a fish store looked as good as mine.

Pointing out everything a person does wrong is easy. Anyone can do that because it requires no effort on their part. Personally, I would rather show someone how they can improve their situation but maybe that is just me.

the good guy award goes to...
Kidding but I support the guy's statement,
as for the OP yes, they can be trained but I think that it'll be much of the competition for the MBU, like all the guys that shared their thoughts about the topic.

 

[PufferGhoti]

You know what? There are not that many of us that successfully keep large Mbu (I assume you do?...) but the question I always ask myself whenever I see posts like yours, the whole "You should know better" or "Didn't you do your research ahead of time?"-thing, is "How does this benefit the fish?".

The TS apparently already has the fish and nothing you or I do is likely to change that, so rather than telling the guy he made a huge mistake (and haven't we all at some point or another?), why not use some of your experience to guide him in the right direction rather than just blasting the guy? Do you think is puffer is going to be better off by you jumping down his throat? Do you think the puffer is going to get better care if he returns it to some crappy local fish place? I know that no Mbu I have ever seen in a fish store looked as good as mine.

Pointing out everything a person does wrong is easy. Anyone can do that because it requires no effort on their part. Personally, I would rather show someone how they can improve their situation but maybe that is just me.

I understand where you are coming from but as the guy is from Red Deer AB, its probably not fallen into his lap, as MBUs just do grow on tree's, the easiest way out of the dilemma is to obtain another tank if he has no way of returning that fish or any other and do a work around and plan for the future. that should be the obvious path and avoid the mixed tank of incompatibility argument, "just because I have them" discussion.

 

[Master of Puffers]

Just got a mbu puffer but he is way too slow to get frozen food from my arowana and dat?

How big is your mbu??

Can they be pellet trained?

I've never tried to pellet train any of my puffers, though I have heard some are easier to train than others depending on how old they are when they were caught.

I tried mussels and shrimp but my arowana pics them up before the puffer can get to them?

I'd have set up differnet tanks if possible..other wise try to seperate the arowana using tongs or something so your puffer can feed undistrubed.

Can't find crayfish in Red Deer , AB. I thought why not pellets? There is the obvious tooth issue, which may be resolved with cuddle bones? Going to try crab legs tonight.

If you are like me and live in a small town, it may be worthwhile trying to contact a restaurant wholesaler for fish and shellfish and making a monthly/2/3monthly run into your local major city to buy at wholesale prices. Otherwise talk to your local supermarket about what they do with discarded lobster and crab legs and offer to buy them when they clean out thier tanks. I've found Metro and Iga to be heppy to sell them to me for pennies..

Otherwise langustine tails and shell on prawns are easily found in the frozen seafood aisle of most supermarkets..just defrost and serve..

Trouble is my arowana took over a year to pellet train. I don't want to ruin that! My only other tank also has and arowana and a stingray. All eat pellets only. Dilemma???

Can you not move the 2 arowanas in together?? Most puffers can turn piscivore rather easily...as I have found out to my shock as a novice fish-slave in the dim and distant past..

 

[Ma12cus504]

you mean trained like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L76nhMTiHQ

It took me 2 month to train mine. I trained 2 others about the same time for my friends. He/she use to eat nothing but shimp, mussel, snail and FISH!! Now.... the only thing it eat is pellet. He dont know what fish is Here is an update video of it with my frys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AGtkT21oxk

 

[PufferGhoti]

So do you think of this as success ? 9inches is pretty small plus the body shape does not look good as the MBU is not getting food/appropriate exercise. I understand this may be a transition step but I don't understand the point of creating this scenario in the first place. what is the goal?

 

[RDFISHGUY]

I love it when people tell me that a fish smaller than my arowana requires a larger tank. That makes as much sense as pockets in your underwear. Water quality and fish health are probably the more important factors at this stage of his life. Both my tanks are tied into an automatic water change system totaling over 500 gallons. There is enough filtration to support 5x the current bioload.

There may be underlying issues with this fish. I believe he has gill flukes. My Dat has started rubbing on the rocks like crazy and the puffer is the only new addition in the past several months. Likely he's the carrier. Tanks are being treated with prazipro.

The puffer has started to mouth food but as of yet has not taken any pellets. Keep you posted.

PS. I took almost a year before my XB arowana converted to pellets. Patience is key. These fish can last longer than most people think.

 

[PufferGhoti]

So do you think of this as success ? 9inches is pretty small plus the body shape does not look good as the MBU is not getting food/appropriate exercise. I understand this may be a transition step but I don't understand the point of creating this scenario in the first place. what is the goal?


"King Leo 4 days ago

|This is a Mbu, much friendlier puffer. This puffer is already pellet trained and brain washed. "Fish are my friend...."

Not sure how my original post has been modified 4 days ago.... this suggests an issue with the board security or an ethics issue

 

[PufferGhoti]

I love it when people tell me that a fish smaller than my arowana requires a larger tank. That makes as much sense as pockets in your underwear. Water quality and fish health are probably the more important factors at this stage of his life. Both my tanks are tied into an automatic water change system totaling over 500 gallons. There is enough filtration to support 5x the current bioload.

There may be underlying issues with this fish. I believe he has gill flukes. My Dat has started rubbing on the rocks like crazy and the puffer is the only new addition in the past several months. Likely he's the carrier. Tanks are being treated with prazipro.

The puffer has started to mouth food but as of yet has not taken any pellets. Keep you posted.

PS. I took almost a year before my XB arowana converted to pellets. Patience is key. These fish can last longer than most people think.

I agree water quality is highly important and lack of appreciation of this is something I have already spoken about...

 

[slednex11]

Hey RD another thing i do when i feed clams is that i use an ABS pipe that reaches the bottom of the tank and drop the clam into the pipe, the puffer will learn real fast that his clams/food come outta the pipe, using the pipe to get the clam to the bottm works well as the arowana most likely wont come to the bottom of the tank to to grab the Clam, and the puffer gets his shelled foods, BAM simple buddy!!! Enjoy the puffer, there such a personable fish, i really enjoy taking care of him/her, PS only worry about water quality and feeding proper foods. Tank size comes as they grow, My guy started in a 75 Gallon then a 180 and now in a 600, and hes about 20" now and super healthy and happy, and teeth are staying in check!!