Mbu Puffer
- Thread starter MizzoSoFresh
- Start date
Fully grown adults need huge tanks. I would say a footprint of 8x4 minimum.
They are big active and intelligent fish and anything smaller would be inhumane imo.
They eat food like crab,mussels, prawns and snails.Foods with a shell help keep their teeth ground down.
As beautiful as they are,I believe they are not a fish for the casual fish keeper.Its a fish that has always been on my wish list.
Due to the massive tank and filtration they require, unless I win the lottery I sadly will never have one.
They have definitely got appeal, but are a huge commitment if to be housed and cared for properly.
They are big active and intelligent fish and anything smaller would be inhumane imo.
They eat food like crab,mussels, prawns and snails.Foods with a shell help keep their teeth ground down.
As beautiful as they are,I believe they are not a fish for the casual fish keeper.Its a fish that has always been on my wish list.
Due to the massive tank and filtration they require, unless I win the lottery I sadly will never have one.
They have definitely got appeal, but are a huge commitment if to be housed and cared for properly.
If you want a puffer with a little less of a foot print you can always look into a fahaka. An MBU can reach between 24 & 28 inches, but the Fahaka being the second largest reaches 18in. Ultimately the fahaka will eventually need at least 125 gallon tank. However they grow at a rate of about an inch per month so I have comfortably housed mine in a 55 for his juvenile years. I will have a 125 or 150 for him ready in the next 4-5 months.
They are big and the 8x4 tank size is a minimum when they are adults. They are also more aggressive than you would think. Most mbu's co-mingle with their tankmates but will bite them out of boredom--especially larger fish with tempting finnage. Lot's of folks house them with African cichlids, and probably arent too upset if the mbu wrecks one on occassion.
I have a 7" MBU in with Frontosa Mobas... does great. I do target feed mine when I feed shrimp or squid.
I have a 15 incher or so. Awesome animal but like they said above they get huge and you need to have a plan. Mine is Fish friendly but they can or can not be. Mine eats massivore and cockles to keep his teeth in check. Very cool animal if you have a plan to keep him
