Which setup would be best for an MBU Puffer?

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B

Billjensen

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 19, 2011
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Nebraska
In a 300 gallon tank...
Or would an MBU be ok in either of these? You can add/subtract fish that you think would work/don't work. I am really trying to get this right the first time and I want my dream set up. And a puffer would look great in their :D

Stock A)
-Ornate Bichir
-Endlii Bichir
-Silver Arowana
-Spotted Gar
-Tiger Oscar

Stock B)
Is more up to you.
I would want some kind of colorful, semi-aggressive/aggressive Cichlids or something such as Divii, Managuenense, anything you recommend.
 
Please don't take this the wrong way, but if you really want to get it right, i would suggest a much larger tank for an MBU... personally speaking i would say Min. 800G, but i'm sure some here will argue a min. of 500G will suffice...

Gotta keep in mind that as with all puffers they produce a lot of waste, and MBU's being the largest of the freshwater puffers, they can produce even more... not to forget they also can get fairly large...
 
They also do best as a solitary fish.
 
Well, is there a puffer that will get large (large enough to not get eaten by bichirs/aros that would be fine in a community 300 gal tank?
 
300 gallons perfect. All the fish you mention I see no poblems but you'll have to watch them as each fish temperament is different. I know it goes against most people to keep Mbu in a community setting. But I've kept mine with other fish since 11" and he is now over 20". He has never bothered any fish. Keeps to himself. I am more concerned with aggressive fish bothering him. I did have a Bicher get its face spit in halve I suspect the Puffer did it. I think it was not on purpose though. The Bicher was in the process of trying to swallow a shrimp that I feed the puffer and the puffer went to eat it and the Bicher didn't let go so he got bitten. The Bicher is still alive he lost halve its face and an eye. But healed up now just missing one eye and part of its lower jaw. Look at my video of you want to see my Mbu in my 300. The smaller Bicher you see in the vid is the one who got bit.
 
Thank you for the help mygiants! I am glad to know it works for you! Also, which setup would you think would be best? More of the "Monster" setup or the colorful one?

And to the guy above, are there any other puffers you would recommend that would get large enough to not get eaten, still look good, and be able to hold its own against the other fish?
 
^ The only other large F/W puffer is a Fahaka... but they are notoriously vicious... i have mine with a yellow lab chichlid and a pleco... but for the most part, i'm would say they need to be solitary...
 
My MBU started in a 120g at 2",and is almost 8" now in 10 months, and currently getting a 400g corner tank made.
but yeah he lives with larger and smaller fish even a dwarf gwuarmi. and a painted Turtle. bigals still had his tankmate few months ago and was still only 2" big, was horrible to see.

but all matters the personality of the puffer you get.
ill get hands on when new fish are added to the tank and if one of the fish looks like its about to eat the other ill interupt.
and well since i ever started that over a year ago i have not lost a fish to another. i only worry the first few days of adding any new members. but after that they all live happily together.

everyones shocked when they see my tank. but it works and they are all happy and live together with there own spaces.
im just so stoked for my new tank. i also currently have a 2 year old tadpole iuno whats going to happen to that im probably have to bring it to some place once he becomes a bullfrog. i dont think i could give him a proper home too. unless he shares my room with me. sorry im a rambler

i love my mbu, id recomend it, think he will be quite happy with a 300g, better than most homes she may ever have a chance of going too. just take your time, and get to know her. and see how things work out. going to take time but so worth seeing their excitement when your around.
 
You'll always find someone here who will give you the answer you want to hear--not necessarily the answer that is best for the life of your fish... :(
 
pufferpunk ,maybe one day you will realise that there are other ways of doing things,
chewyflipper give an opinion based on experiance, surely their advice has as much merit as your own.

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