What to look for in a MBU before you buy it?

[nolang80]

Hi , after extensive reasearch and planning I am now in a position to purchase my MBU puffer.
Before he/she moves to the tropical pond it will be in a 100 gallon tank.
Before anyone gets on ther high horse i am well aware how big these fish get hence why i have a tropical pond containing many large fish.


The question i have is they are fairly expensive to purchase and what is normal behaviour for them ?
In the lfs some seem to sit around at the bottom of the tank ' sulking' from experience my dog face sulks when he doesnt get his fair share of food. is this sitting aroung behaviour normal in MBU's.

Do there colors change normally a some seem a bit drab while other are quit bright ?

Also the smaller ones seem very active while the larger ones are not is this normal ?

I was planning on feeding the usual puffer fare such as cockle and fishy meats does anyone add vitamin spray to the foods?

A lot of questions but i dont want to make a mistake.

[Pufferpunk]

I'll wait for the mbu keepers to respond but a pond sounds cool. I saw one kept in a pond. Only problem was he could only see the top of the fish & they're so beautiful from the side. Mbu is "rock" in Swahili, so I would expect him to look like a rock in there.

[flash.dan]

mbus are extremly playful placid puffers ive kept them with everything from RTc to tetras no issues atall. a mbu with a normal tempermant should be responsive of its owner (or food the owner may have) extremly intellegent fish. buying / keeping a mbu shouldnt be a consideration..... if you can afford to house one the cost of purchasing it is nothing atall.

good luck if you do get one

[nolang80]

Hi, its not the cost of purchasing the MBU that really worries me its buying a sickly one as some look unhappy in the shops. I just dont want attached to a creature that is sickly.

[groovitudedude]

mbus are extremly playful placid puffers ive kept them with everything from RTc to tetras no issues atall. a mbu with a normal tempermant should be responsive of its owner (or food the owner may have) extremly intellegent fish. buying / keeping a mbu shouldnt be a consideration..... if you can afford to house one the cost of purchasing it is nothing atall.

good luck if you do get one

Mbu with an RTC? How big was that tank? Or was it a small lake?

[Pufferpunk]

I agree 100%, do not buy a sickly fish. I have been in this hobby a very long time & have not seen very many sucess stories that start out that way. Better to support the LFS who take care of their fish & keep them healthy.

[flash.dan]

mbus are extremly playful placid puffers ive kept them with everything from RTc to tetras no issues atall. a mbu with a normal tempermant should be responsive of its owner (or food the owner may have) extremly intellegent fish. buying / keeping a mbu shouldnt be a consideration..... if you can afford to house one the cost of purchasing it is nothing atall.

good luck if you do get one

Mbu with an RTC? How big was that tank? Or was it a small lake?

haha the RTC was only small 26" mark at the time in a 8x4x3 which i still own.


youll probably find most mbus look depressed in the LFS usually they are in inadequate tanks if they look healthy there personality should come back once stimulated. this being said its around july time Mbus are imported / exported so best bet is to get one ordered in especially yes youll have to acclimatise it but better being done in your tank and staying there settled than in a LFS