very, very sad MBU

[mpk172]

Sooo.....went to a very large fish store today. They had 3 Mbus. All of which are very much underweight. One was extremely emaciated. I decided to do the thing that EVERYONE advises against. I bought him. He is just a baby and is living in his own 150 gal. right now. I am very very very concerned about him. I tried to feed him several things so far. He ate a little bit of a snail that I had to crush for him. He nibbled on a piece of shrimp but he seemed to spit most of it back out. I am also concerned about my filter causing too much of a current. He is really weak and I don't want him to have to exert any extra energy in order to swim. There is a fluval fx5 on it right now. any suggestions?

-Mike

[Pufferpunk]

How big is he?

[mpk172]

I would say he is about 5 inches long. but he is unbelievably skinny! I have never seen a fish this skinny. I will try to get some pictures posted in a few days.

[Pufferpunk]

Try soaking all his food in garlic & a good fish vitamin. If he isn't eating soon, you'll have to force-feed.

[mpk172]

so the little sad mbu has eaten a little more. Today he ate the back end of two snails. He also nibbled on a clam that I cracked open. His belly isn't as sunken in now. I guess maybe I just have to figure out what he likes.

[HRPuffersnStuff]

Mike! I got the video off of my phone.

This is our sad little rescue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A8XfPJnr94

You all should also watch this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3so0Zu6kAQs

And read the comments below it.

PS. the one is this video is dead, they have since replaced it with a smaller one, I guess they thought I wouldn't notice.

BTW, welcome Mike to the forum! He is one of my BFFs and is a great asset to the fishkeeping community, I learned much of what I know from him.

[crazedpuffer]

Welcome to the forum! Maybe you should try live food like shrimp. My porc Shelby went crazy for them and acted much more lively after eating a few ghost shrimp.

[mpk172]

make sure you guys check out that video that HRpuffersnstuff posted! That is the little guy we have been talking about. You can see every bone in his body! Thanks for those gracious comments Jess!

[Myaj]

Aw, poor skinny guy.

And that store video.. you'd think they'd at least pronounce it correctly!

[HRPuffersnStuff]

haha! That is so funny Myaj, Mike and I were laughing about that the day we picked up little "moo" (so named for the mooboo puffer, lol) They always try to correct me when I say mmmmboo. They act like they know so much there, since they have so many marine biologists on staff, but this is the same place that kept fahakas in brackish, claiming their extensive research showed they preferred it. They have come to hate me over there because I always politely tell them their puffers are too skinny, misnamed, in the wrong SG, etc. Mike also has a Fahaka puffer named "Hooka" because the girl who fished it out for us called it a Fahooka puffer.

[mpk172]

so he seems to be liking the clams the most. He will only eat certain part of the clam though. I'm afraid he is going to be one THOSE picky kinds.

[manutius]

I have only just caught up with this thread, I would look to feed mussels rather tahn clams in shell as its less work for the puffer, try peas too. Your rescue actually looks nice and active which is a good sign, fingers crossed you will get him to a good size in no time. Good luck

[spikesmom]

i am glad you bought him, they should be ashamed and how do they still have a license to carry on selling , i truly hope you get him up to normal size, its so awful to see, keep us posted on progress xxxxxxxx

[dumpythepuffer]

what store is this? i cant watch the video yet (im at work) however soon as i get home i will watch it.
loads of people dont care about fish. its horrable!!!!!!!!

[Hilly]

Poor little Mbu looks emaciated, at least he's in good hands now. Quite like thatfishplace video, dont think i will ever call them maboo though.