New Puffer! (Mbu)

[Roaringrory]

hello everyone! I recently got my hands on a mbu and would like to share him with you all on here hes about 3.5", currently on a diet of bloodworms, clams and snails. Once he gets a good decent size, hes going into a 300g. Im thinking about turning it into another planted but thats way off in the future

 

[foshizzle11]

Very cool looking fish!!


How big do they get that you would put him in a 300g?

 

[bthomas]

Wow! Nice find. I saw one at one of my lfs recently that was at least 16"-probably more. How fast do these grow?

 

[Freakgecko91]

My lfs has a large one (2 ft) named Dave lol they get huge, like 3ft plus, and have a beak capable of taking off fingers!

 

[Roaringrory]

Mbu puffers are known to get 26 inches long (im not sure if this includes tail fin or not). He'll probably grown an inch every month for about a year then start to slow down. It'll be a couple of years till he hits maximal size

His name is Elliot

 

[bettaowner]

That is the most beautiful mbu I've ever seen

 

[azmodan]

Great looking puffer! Did he cost you an arm and a leg?

 

[Roaringrory]

Thank you! He was $130... which isn't too bad. Its the Cross River Puffers (Tetraodon pustulatus) that really cost the arm and leg

 

[azmodan]

Just out of curiosity is there any worry of having to trim his beak when he is fully grown or should the usual assortment of shellfish/snails keep it down? I just find it amusing to imagine you holding a 2+ puffer with a little nail file near his beak.

 

[Rivers2k]

wow beautiful! Wish I had room for a 300 gallon. puffers are by far my favorite fish.

 

[Roaringrory]

Just out of curiosity is there any worry of having to trim his beak when he is fully grown or should the usual assortment of shellfish/snails keep it down? I just find it amusing to imagine you holding a 2+ puffer with a little nail file near his beak.

That would be a sight to see! I never heard of any of the larger puffer species needing dental care. Probably due to the fact that they can eat whole size clams to keep their beaks nice and trimmed.

 

[Aski247]

Awesome fish! How aggressive is it? Is it solo in a 300? Can it have tank mates?

 

[Roaringrory]

They are usually agressive although i have seen youtube videos of owners successfully keeping mbu's with other fish. So far mine kills anything i put in there with him (RIP little corydora )