How Often Should I feed My Mbu Puffer?

[bertie 83]

They will go on hunger strikes when stressed. He will soon come round

[RTR]

My mbu stayed in the 180 too long and it permanently damaged his caudal fin before I moved him up again. The multiple veggie filters helped keep the water quality up as that was always an issue with that huge fish. I would never suggest such a complex set-up as really suitable to that fish. One large display tank ~4x4x8-10 feet plus (mine was the smaller of those) two veggie filters about a 120 each on opposite light cycles should be better and much easier to operate.

But only specially engineered ground floor massive slabs can support such tanks, and the operating costs are astronomic. I could certainly not afford to operate that setup today, which is why I try to discourage folks from keeping such demanding fish. They are too big and too costly. Like any massively costly luxury item, if you have to ask the price, you cannot afford it. Could you afford the penalty water rates? I pay such now and don't use nearly as much as that fish alone required. It took ~120 gallons per day year-round just for that setup. Add on air-to-air heat exchanges (to dump excess humidity), separate AC, etc. and it is like operating a luxury second house in one room. We loved that fish, but it is just no longer financially practical or even possible for those without great wealth.

[Pufferpunk]

I don't understand why he's not in the pond?

[trekenk]

Is he in the pond now?

yeah, I just put him in, I let him acclimate for around 45 minutes and then eventually put him in. He seems to like it a lot!

I believe he is in the pond now?????

[newyork10]

Ok, My puffer is pretty lazy, he lays on the bottom of the tank most of the day, and he occasionally comes to the top.. he eats like a pig though. Whats wrong with him? am I feeding him too much?

[Flutter]

You might be. Can you show us a picture of what he currently looks like?

[newyork10]

Unfortunately my pond grows algae very fast and it is hard to see the fish, I scooped up the mbu and put him in a tank to show you guys, sorry that was the best I could do. He seems to be swimming more, but he's breathing VERY fast (in the pond) heres some picture I took, In my other tank, (he's still breathing hard though Im worried that he's actually breathing too fast!)

[newyork10]

Here's another picture of he's stomach, do you think I fed him to much?

[newyork10]

he's breathing like 100-115 times per minutes (his gills are moving) should I be worried?!

[Pufferpunk]

Have you checked the parameters of the pond? What's the temp? Are there other fish in there?

[newyork10]

There are no other fish in the pond, and how do I check the parameters of the pond?

[bertie 83]

Water testing kit. A good liquid one is recommended

[sevenyearnight]

Wait, you don't test your water? How do you know whether or not the water is cycled and safe? Any ammonia or nitrite can kill him.

[newyork10]

No, i've tested for ammonia and nitrite with those water testing strips but I've never tested for parameters

[Pufferpunk]

Parameters: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH. Generally done accurately with a liquid test kit.