Mbu puffer nipping fins

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SawickiB

SawickiB

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Feb 22, 2014
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FL, United States
Ok so my mbu is about 6" now, fast grower used to almost fit in my polypterus's mouth but now i wouldnt imagine that haha.

Anyways im noticing my geophagus keep getting nips at the front of their dorsal fins and i know its my mbu but ive never seen it.

My question is will this carry over to killing fish when hes bigger? As of now hes literally only interested in invertebrates as food and not even blood worms but crabs, crawfish, clams, shrimp etc...

Its not that big of the a deal rn because the water is so clean all the wounds get healed but its a bit annoying, and i dont know why its only the caudal fins of my geos, i have big red severums and a L25 and L095 and he never nips their fins... Any guesses?
 
Most of the members advise not to mix them with other fish, this goes for most puffers especially MBU, and Fahaka.
 
^ Hey tlindsey tlindsey , you're quite right in saying that mixing Puffers in a community tank is normally not recommended, but MBU's and South American Puffers are about the only puffers people say MAY accept tankmates, although even then, it should be done with extreme caution due to each puffer having its own personality...

As for why OP's puffer is nipping at one fish in particular is hard to say??? Could be due to tank size, could be due to the fish getting too near the business end of the puffer, or it could even be that the fish in question is harassing the puffer causing it to attack during the night???

SawickiB SawickiB what other tank mates do you have in the tank with your puffer, and how large is the tank currently that hes housed in???
 
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I find its just something you have to try and see what happens! Some puffers a murderous killers and other calm as Hindu cows. They all have different personalities.

My fahaka is surprisingly quite calm, then it's a case of finding fish he is okay with (they can be picky about tank mates) and giving him space.. Mines now in a 7ft 220 gallon so if he wants to be left alone he can get away.

Lastly get him growing up with fish so he realises they aren't dinner from a young age.. And then large semi aggressive fish that can push back if he gets a little boisterous.

Thats the best I can suggest.. And have a rescue net/tank ready if things go badly.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys!

Yea i have had him with other fish since he was about 3" because id like to have him with other fish as an adult too. Hes seems super chill with everyone and doesnt seem to have anyone picking on him, but he does get a little aggressive when i feed him but thats understandable. Its also not one particular fish, but it is only the geophagus that im seeing fin nips, i think my male red severum got bit once a month ago but not again.

Hes in a 180 gallon, it has 5 geo winemilleri, 2 geo jurupari, 5 geo red head, 2 red severum, 1 gymnothorax poly, 1 fire eel, 1 razorback musk turtle, 3 poly teugelsi, 4 pearl gouramis, 6 eletric blue acara, L25, L095, and 2 L200. I know its a bit of motley group but im rehoming the winemilleri, jurupari, and tuegs soon.

Mizu my puffer sleeps to the right of the tank inside a piece of driftwood, he also goes over there after eating, its more calm over there because the L25 usually doesnt let others go there.

And lastly heres two more photos.


 
That sounds like a lot of fish for a 180G tank, so i hope you have some plans for an upgrade, since that MBU will eventually outgrow the 180G (considering they can reach anywhere from about 26" - 30" in length)...

Without a full tank shot, i'm going to guess the nipping is caused due to the amount of fish you have in the tank, since with that many, there is bound to be issues with the fish running into each other more often than not, especially when trying to find a place to chill out...

My old fahaka was pretty chilled out, but if any of the tankmates got too near her caves, she wasn't shy to let them know, so i'm guessing, maybe something similar could be happening with some of your fish, where they are possibly trying to steal a sleeping spot from one of the other fish, causing a fight / fin nipping to occur...
 
Thanks for the concerns, yea i will be going for a 300 gallon tank, and i will be getting rid of a few of my fish as well. Heres a tank shot. Its actually not as crowded as it seems but i know its not ideal, as i am trying to rehome some fish but its been a bit tuff.
 
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