Hello!
I am new to the forum and have posted briefly in the intro section.
I have kept tanks all my life - mostly fresh water community, or oranda goldfish - tho I did have many years ago (20?) a puffer fish whom I have never forgotten.
I was told by the fish store owner that he rarely got this sort of puffer in; a fresh water variety, and he said it was called a Mombu Puffer. The lil' guy looked like an emaciated skull with fins - similar in pattern to the spotted or figure 8's that he also sold, but the eyes were irridescent and very piercing.
It didn't take long for my husband and I to fall in love with 'Mambette Mombu', and after quickly finding out that the fiddler crabs and ghost shrimp were not suitable for tankmates but quite suitable for puffer dinner, we in short order turned our tiny emaciated skull with fins into a several inch long nicely filled out fish that was always eager to greet us and gobble up the snails we dropped in like popcorn.
I can't recall WHY we ended up sending Mambette back to the fish store - I think the tank was so heavy it was stressing a main beam in the house if I reckon right. All I know is that I have not heard nor seen another such 'mombu' puffer since.
I have seen in this forum 'Mbu' puffer - but I am not sure if its the same. Is the name commonly mispronounced? Or is there a mombu river or area in Africa so the name could be real?
Any info is appreciated!
I have, in my search for another 'Mambette', located locally a fahaka puffer, and it sounds similar in temperament/personality but also is one of the larger varieties and the size tank required is a bit daunting. I cannot recall that the so called 'mombu' puffer that I had was a large variety - however I also never saw any write up in any book that I can recall either.
Right now it looks like I am getting a fahaka
- and if you keep the tank in the basement, no worries about the weight stressing the main beam!
Signing off for Friday, will be back again Monday!
I am new to the forum and have posted briefly in the intro section.
I have kept tanks all my life - mostly fresh water community, or oranda goldfish - tho I did have many years ago (20?) a puffer fish whom I have never forgotten.
I was told by the fish store owner that he rarely got this sort of puffer in; a fresh water variety, and he said it was called a Mombu Puffer. The lil' guy looked like an emaciated skull with fins - similar in pattern to the spotted or figure 8's that he also sold, but the eyes were irridescent and very piercing.
It didn't take long for my husband and I to fall in love with 'Mambette Mombu', and after quickly finding out that the fiddler crabs and ghost shrimp were not suitable for tankmates but quite suitable for puffer dinner, we in short order turned our tiny emaciated skull with fins into a several inch long nicely filled out fish that was always eager to greet us and gobble up the snails we dropped in like popcorn.
I can't recall WHY we ended up sending Mambette back to the fish store - I think the tank was so heavy it was stressing a main beam in the house if I reckon right. All I know is that I have not heard nor seen another such 'mombu' puffer since.
I have seen in this forum 'Mbu' puffer - but I am not sure if its the same. Is the name commonly mispronounced? Or is there a mombu river or area in Africa so the name could be real?
Any info is appreciated!
I have, in my search for another 'Mambette', located locally a fahaka puffer, and it sounds similar in temperament/personality but also is one of the larger varieties and the size tank required is a bit daunting. I cannot recall that the so called 'mombu' puffer that I had was a large variety - however I also never saw any write up in any book that I can recall either.
Right now it looks like I am getting a fahaka
- and if you keep the tank in the basement, no worries about the weight stressing the main beam!Signing off for Friday, will be back again Monday!
