I have a 500g setup right now and have done a little reading about the mbu puffers. My tank is 8x4x2 with 100g sump and 5500gph pump. Will this be ok for life? I read anywhere from 20"-36" max size, what can I realistically expect? I also saw they can grow a foot in the first year which is good cuz in the tank now are a RTCxTSN and a gar. Neither are aggressive at all. Sand substrate and a couple amazon swords pretty bare tank. So do they need brackish water? Are they aggressive toward tank mates? I've heard all kinda of stuff. Last, they eat snails and stuff? Are we talking like pond snails? Trapdoor snails? I know it changes depending on size, but there are def pond snails in the tank. Thanks for any input or advice!
Mbu or no?
- Thread starter brich999
- Start date
An 800 gallon minimum is recommended for MBU. They are generally peaceful, but with all puffers, they can be aggressive. No, they do not need brackish water. they willl however need a diet that will trim down it's teeth.. raw shrimp w/shell, crayfish, crabs, crablegs... I feed my fahaka puffer freshwater mussels stuffed with tilapia, and he bites right through them. I only feed him 3 times a week.
IMO, I just wouldn't get one. I at one point plan on getting one, but he would be going in my 1500 gallon tank. But they are expensive, so it's not happening any time soon.
IMO, I just wouldn't get one. I at one point plan on getting one, but he would be going in my 1500 gallon tank. But they are expensive, so it's not happening any time soon.
I mean really they aren't fast swimmers right? If he grows to 2.5 ft he will still have swimming room. I'm not saying I'm def getting one, just trying to get the right info.
okay before an argument breaks out again... let me just say this much, it in a lot of ways really comes down to personal opinion and what you feel makes more sense to you...
Personally speaking, just because i think even a 200G for a fahaka is a bit small, i think an 800G min for an MBU is not too outrageous, which is why i would never get one, since the tank would take up too much space meaning a lot of $$$$$ in this town...
So yeah, i'm sure a lot of people will drop in and add their opinions and facts etc, so it will ultimately come down to what you think is best for your fish if you decide to get it...
Personally speaking, just because i think even a 200G for a fahaka is a bit small, i think an 800G min for an MBU is not too outrageous, which is why i would never get one, since the tank would take up too much space meaning a lot of $$$$$ in this town...
So yeah, i'm sure a lot of people will drop in and add their opinions and facts etc, so it will ultimately come down to what you think is best for your fish if you decide to get it...
Thats the other thing i dont get, MBUs are recommended to need 1000g but fahakas are recommended to need 200g which also makes no sence becouse MBUs reach a maximum of 26-27inchs and fahakas reach a max of 19-20inchs. So why do you need a extra 800gallons for an extra 6-7inchs of fish? and before any one replies saying "bioload" you dont need an extra 800gallons for a extra 6-7inchs of fish waste,.
What you need to take into consideration is the shape of these guys.
Compare a puffer at 26" to an arowana at 26"... who's going to take up more room?
Definitely a puffer.
IMO, I don't think that 200 gallons is not enough for a Fahaka, reason being, most likely that 200 gallon tank is 24" in depth, which is more than the length of the fish.. where as a Mbu would easily touch front and back and be rather squished.
I don't think it' exactly gallonage.. more so tank dimensions.
Compare a puffer at 26" to an arowana at 26"... who's going to take up more room?
Definitely a puffer.
IMO, I don't think that 200 gallons is not enough for a Fahaka, reason being, most likely that 200 gallon tank is 24" in depth, which is more than the length of the fish.. where as a Mbu would easily touch front and back and be rather squished.
I don't think it' exactly gallonage.. more so tank dimensions.