6" MBU not moving much

[Flutter]

Alright, so you're using aged tap water then? If so that's better.

Why won't you do a 50% water change? That's what most of us do for our puffers because of the waste they produce. Heck, we do 90% on the bettas and about 60% on the discus.

[Pufferpunk]

My FW tanks all get 75%/week.

[Fccm15]

My FW tanks all get 75%/week.

you mean 75% at once?

[trekenk]

My FW tanks all get 75%/week.

you mean 75% at once?

Yes, bacteria doesn't live in the water so changing out large quanities of tank water does no harm but is in fact in most cases good. Unless your water quaility is very poor (due to not doing enought water changes to begin with) then you want to do smaller more frequent water changes as to not shock your fish.

[Fccm15]

well, i just did a history check on my puffer, the previous owner also got it second hand. When he bought that puffer it had ick, and some wound, that puffer had been biten by a red devil. the previous owner spended over 3 weeks to cured that puffer in a 30 gallons tank. then he sold it to me without mention anything.

So maybe my puffer became shy because he was once been bully by other fish.

i might consider to sell him unless he become active, otherwise there is no way he can get food in my large tank with other fish.

[sevenyearnight]

+1 to selling him, he won't like being around lots of fish.

[Pufferpunk]

Please interview potential buyers carefully, even asking to see the large tank they have for upgrading. We don't want to see this mbu going to yet another horrible life, like 90% of the mbus I see on the net.

[Srkoe]

The least you can do is take some water to your LFS and have it tested. Clean water is crucial for puffers, being scaless they are much more sensitive than other fish. I can always tell a difference in my Fahakas behavior even when waterchanges are just a few day over due...he is much less active. If you're not willing to do a 50% water change on a 65gallon what will you do when you need 1000gallons? Having to buy the "extras" we need for fish keeping (test kits and stuff) sucks...but these "extras" can be crucial for their survival. They didn't ask to be caught and kept in glass boxes their entire lives. It is up to us as responsible keepers to give them the lives they deserve. Everybody is bringing up water quality because ammonia and Nitrites even in small amounts CAN and WILL cause many ailments/behavioral issues in fish. Testing your water could very well be the key to figuring out why your fish acts the way it does. When you purchase a puffer you should always go into it thinking that it is a very real possibility that it will never be able to have tankmates. I too think you should rehome your MBU. It saddens me though as these fish become very attached to their keepers just like dogs. This poor fish is being passed around and more than likely will continue to be passed around for what will end up being a short life . My personal opinion on MBU's probably differs from others...I don't think they should ever be kept in captivity (outside of zoos or aquariums). They are few people that will be able to properly house and care for these fish in the long run...it really is sad....

[Fccm15]

The least you can do is take some water to your LFS and have it tested. Clean water is crucial for puffers, being scaless they are much more sensitive than other fish. I can always tell a difference in my Fahakas behavior even when waterchanges are just a few day over due...he is much less active. If you're not willing to do a 50% water change on a 65gallon what will you do when you need 1000gallons? Having to buy the "extras" we need for fish keeping (test kits and stuff) sucks...but these "extras" can be crucial for their survival. They didn't ask to be caught and kept in glass boxes their entire lives. It is up to us as responsible keepers to give them the lives they deserve. Everybody is bringing up water quality because ammonia and Nitrites even in small amounts CAN and WILL cause many ailments/behavioral issues in fish. Testing your water could very well be the key to figuring out why your fish acts the way it does. When you purchase a puffer you should always go into it thinking that it is a very real possibility that it will never be able to have tankmates. I too think you should rehome your MBU. It saddens me though as these fish become very attached to their keepers just like dogs. This poor fish is being passed around and more than likely will continue to be passed around for what will end up being a short life . My personal opinion on MBU's probably differs from others...I don't think they should ever be kept in captivity (outside of zoos or aquariums). They are few people that will be able to properly house and care for these fish in the long run...it really is sad....

i did research and there are ppl who have sucess to keep MBU puffer with other fish. Dont you agree that among all kind ofs puffer, mbu is least aggressive.
about the % of water change, each aquarium is different, depend on the bio load, type of filtrations, i can do 50% no problem, but i dont see whats wrong of doing a 30-35% every 4-5days. you would be out of your mind if you do 50% water change on a 1000gal, speak of 1000gal if you own one. However, i do respect the way you think aquarium fish should be treat.

[Srkoe]

Yes, Mbu's are often kept with other fish. It also differs greatly in personality of the fish. It is possible your fish might be scared of other fish if it was attacked. The bioload of such large bodied fish like puffers is huge. Not just in their poo, they are very messy eaters. When my 9" Fahaka goes, he really goes...lol!! Whatever you decide to do I just hope you make the right decision. There are some extremely knowledgeable folks on here with puffer experience that spans farther than I've been alive. I can say that I put A LOT of trust in these folks and they have never steered me wrong. We have no alterior motives, just a love for puffer fish and their proper care b

[Pufferpunk]

If you read this article, you will see the kinds of massive filtration needed to keep this beast: viewtopic.php?f=56&t=150

[Srkoe]

I love that article. Coming from RTR means a lot in my book.