Hi, I just got my new puffer and I was wondering if anyone else has one, and would they care to share their experience with me. I've been loving him since I first saw him, so I got his house set up, and just brought him home monday. He's such a wonderful addition, and I want to give him the best care possible, so if anyone has one I can't wait to hear from you, or anyone who would care to share any knowledge of them at all. Thx.
New Tetraodon Mbu Puffer owner
- Thread starter cookinkandi
- Start date
careful not to overfeed. Mine ate himself to death and I know a few other people who had same problem. I mean he literally ate himself to death... one night... stuffed himself so full within a couple hours he was dead. I had read they could do that and did not believe it (I thought it was a myth) but its true.
I love mbus... very cool enjoy
I love mbus... very cool enjoy
Get the biggest tank you can find, or special order one. They get huge, way too big for the average tank. Great looking fish but their large size causes problems for some and stunting a puffer isnt an option. I'm looking at the tank manufactures on the net to figure out how large of tank i could afford to house one. 
In the mean time i keep smaller species .
www.**************.com (if i got the link right)
thats an amazing source of first hand puffer info from people.
Jason
In the mean time i keep smaller species .www.**************.com (if i got the link right)
thats an amazing source of first hand puffer info from people.
Jason
Definately need a large tank. Recommended tank size for a full grown adult is 2000 gallons based on their size and the amount of activity.
Also...Mbu are not brackish puffers, they are fresh water.
Also...Mbu are not brackish puffers, they are fresh water.
Thank you both for your info. Now "he" is about 4 in. w/o tail, and loves krill, but hates the green food they (fishrushouston.com) sent home w/him. He's in a 55 gal., all alone, and I am aware he will need a bigger tank, & am ready to do so, just not sure how fast they grow, do you know? Once again, thanx for your reply, and I'm gonna try to post some pix.
Thanx, Candice
Thanx, Candice
Probably just waste builds up in water the puffer stomach can inlarge that how he blows himself up he swallows water.
I would assume it wouldn't be how much you feed, but what you feed it. Blockages are frequent killers in puffers, feed little and often with the active fish.
Love to see a photo of the new fish!
You might want to feed him snails three to four times a week to trim his teeth down. Mbu's teeth grow continuously. Without shellfish to trim it down, teeth will grow until he can't eat anything and die. I have one about the same size as yours and he loves to crack small snails. I sometimes crack larger snail for him too.
Oh, and don't feed him too much. From what I've read in **************.com, we can kill or shorten his life by overfeeding. I feed once a day until his belly slightly round and skip one day a week.
Oh, and don't feed him too much. From what I've read in **************.com, we can kill or shorten his life by overfeeding. I feed once a day until his belly slightly round and skip one day a week.
Hi, Welcome to MFK! Good buy, you won't regret it!
Overfeeding means the puffer needs more oxygen to digest the food and can often suffocate. So have extreme filtration to avoid this problem. I don't feed daily- possibly 3 times a week, as it also creates less waste and slows growth rates.
Overfeeding means the puffer needs more oxygen to digest the food and can often suffocate. So have extreme filtration to avoid this problem. I don't feed daily- possibly 3 times a week, as it also creates less waste and slows growth rates.