Hi everyone
I am finally getting a tank that is big enough for a MBU. I have wanted one for ages and have finally managed to get a tank 72"x30"x32" which should be OK for a couple years. The filtering will be 2 canisters one capable of 1200l and the other 1500l. The bottom will be sand as I understand this is the best for MBU. The real question is, is this OK? I am also looking at some company for him. I understand that not all puffers will tolerate company and propose to put the other fish in first. I am after a catfish to help tidy up after the MBU and like giraffe catfish but have been told these might rasp on the puffer. Has anyone had any experience of keeping catfish with a MBU and if so which ones are best? Someone suggested to me a perruno or a Megalodoras uranoscopus has anyone had any experience with these?
Thanks
MBU Puffer
MBU Puffer
Pufferfun
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Hilly
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The substrate doesnt have to be sand, gravel would work just as well, I dont think the Mbu will mind. Some people like sand, others think it is a pain to keep clean and prefer gravel.
A lot of nice rockwork to break the tank up and give him resting and hiding spots would be good.
The idea of a clean up catfish is probably going to make more mess than keep your tank clean and something like a giraffe catfish has the potential to get bigger than the mbu and will not be satisfied with scraps, it will want a lot of food and produce a lot of waste.
I dont think it will make that much difference whether you introduce the catfish first and then the mbu. It will be more down the the personality of the Mbu whether he will tolerate something else.
A lot of nice rockwork to break the tank up and give him resting and hiding spots would be good.
The idea of a clean up catfish is probably going to make more mess than keep your tank clean and something like a giraffe catfish has the potential to get bigger than the mbu and will not be satisfied with scraps, it will want a lot of food and produce a lot of waste.
I dont think it will make that much difference whether you introduce the catfish first and then the mbu. It will be more down the the personality of the Mbu whether he will tolerate something else.
Hilly
I agree with Hilly that the mess you want cleaning up by the catfish will be equalled by the mess the catfish will be producing. Two large fish will pu a hugh demand on the bioload so filtration will have to be stepped up to accomodate.
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Thought I'd pipe up, dont know whether it will help.
I have an MBU (had him for over a year now). He lives with 2 bristlenose plecs and 2 catfish. Unfortunately i am unsure of the name of them. I think we originally thought they were pimelodus blochii. There is an old post in the pictures forum titled best buddies, this will give you an idea of what he looks like. You may be able to identify him from that. I was also told that clown loaches could potentially be a good tank mate.
Once again it very much depends on the personality of the puffer, i have been very lucky in that boomer has not shown any sign of aggression towards the other fish. He is still only a baby but i hope it stays that way!
Enjoy your MBU he or she(!) will give you hours of amusement i guarantee it!!
If you have any piccies it would be great to see them.
I have an MBU (had him for over a year now). He lives with 2 bristlenose plecs and 2 catfish. Unfortunately i am unsure of the name of them. I think we originally thought they were pimelodus blochii. There is an old post in the pictures forum titled best buddies, this will give you an idea of what he looks like. You may be able to identify him from that. I was also told that clown loaches could potentially be a good tank mate.
Once again it very much depends on the personality of the puffer, i have been very lucky in that boomer has not shown any sign of aggression towards the other fish. He is still only a baby but i hope it stays that way!
Enjoy your MBU he or she(!) will give you hours of amusement i guarantee it!!
If you have any piccies it would be great to see them.
Hi Boomer
Those pics are fantastic and yes he is one cute mbu!!! The catfish looks like a pimelodus blochii - certainly the same as on planet catfish. He sounds like he might be good company for my puffer, if the puffer tolerates company. I am getting the tank on Saturday and then I need to get it cycled although the filter has got used media in it. The LFS are holding the mbu for me until the tank is ready but I am sure gonna make sure that it is fully cycled before I chance him in there. I will be adding water and squeezing filters from other tanks as well. Thought I would put the catfish in first and then let tank cycle again before adding mbu. Good job I have an understanding LFS!!!!!
When I get him/her i will post some pics.
Nikki
Those pics are fantastic and yes he is one cute mbu!!! The catfish looks like a pimelodus blochii - certainly the same as on planet catfish. He sounds like he might be good company for my puffer, if the puffer tolerates company. I am getting the tank on Saturday and then I need to get it cycled although the filter has got used media in it. The LFS are holding the mbu for me until the tank is ready but I am sure gonna make sure that it is fully cycled before I chance him in there. I will be adding water and squeezing filters from other tanks as well. Thought I would put the catfish in first and then let tank cycle again before adding mbu. Good job I have an understanding LFS!!!!!
When I get him/her i will post some pics.
Nikki
Pufferfun
Thankyou, he was quite a cutie back then, he still is of course, just a lot bigger now!! He was just about 3 or 4 inches then, he's now about 9 inches!!
The MBU is the most intriguing fish i have to say, i first fell in love with one because it yawned at me!! I was hooked from that moment!
Even the thought of him growing 2ft+ and costing me a fortune didn't deter me. I knew i could give one of these guys a good home and nothing was gonna stop me!!!
My LFS were brilliant as well, they held boomer for about 9 weeks for me. Mind you i did spend an absolute fortune as i bought the whole tank set up from them.
Cycling your tank wont take long, but it will seem like forever! You'll be back at your LFS every other weekend to see how your MBU is doing.
I know you are probably aware of this but can i just reiterate how important it is that the water conditions are perfect before you move your MBU in, they are quite sensitive little things. Dont be tempted to pick him up a week or so early, it will be better for him in the long run.
Have you thought of any names yet?!
The MBU is the most intriguing fish i have to say, i first fell in love with one because it yawned at me!! I was hooked from that moment!
Even the thought of him growing 2ft+ and costing me a fortune didn't deter me. I knew i could give one of these guys a good home and nothing was gonna stop me!!!
My LFS were brilliant as well, they held boomer for about 9 weeks for me. Mind you i did spend an absolute fortune as i bought the whole tank set up from them.
Cycling your tank wont take long, but it will seem like forever! You'll be back at your LFS every other weekend to see how your MBU is doing.
I know you are probably aware of this but can i just reiterate how important it is that the water conditions are perfect before you move your MBU in, they are quite sensitive little things. Dont be tempted to pick him up a week or so early, it will be better for him in the long run.
Have you thought of any names yet?!
Hi Boomer
Trust me I will not be tempted to pick hi up too early. I have made that mistake once with some topaz puffers and certainly wont do it again. At the moment I have 2 SAP puffers so I know about water conditions being spot on and have all the test kits. That is another reason for adding the catfish first just to help the tank get used to some waste rather than putting them both in at once. Trust me this is gonna be one spoil little fish!!! As to names, I keep thinking but not found anything that is totally right. Its like you say, I will keep popping down to LFS and looking at him and I am sure a name will come. I had thought of Boo and I like yours. The other one was squirly. Maybe I should start asking for suggestions?!?
Trust me I will not be tempted to pick hi up too early. I have made that mistake once with some topaz puffers and certainly wont do it again. At the moment I have 2 SAP puffers so I know about water conditions being spot on and have all the test kits. That is another reason for adding the catfish first just to help the tank get used to some waste rather than putting them both in at once. Trust me this is gonna be one spoil little fish!!! As to names, I keep thinking but not found anything that is totally right. Its like you say, I will keep popping down to LFS and looking at him and I am sure a name will come. I had thought of Boo and I like yours. The other one was squirly. Maybe I should start asking for suggestions?!?
Pufferfun
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sicklid-holic
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I was always under the impression that sand will be pain to clean and clog up filters. But until I landed my hands on pool filter sand (Leslies 20grade brand). I have converted 2 of my tank already, if its not for the reason that I wanted variety of substrate, all my tanks will be pool fiter sand.
Believe it or not, I can gravel vac this sand with full pressure from my water faucet (using python) and it sucks up just like gravel and heavy.
Trust me, if you can get your hands on Leslies 20grade pool filter sand it will be the best substrate for looks and maintenance.
Believe it or not, I can gravel vac this sand with full pressure from my water faucet (using python) and it sucks up just like gravel and heavy.
Trust me, if you can get your hands on Leslies 20grade pool filter sand it will be the best substrate for looks and maintenance.
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Myaj
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Yes, I like the more coarse sands. Very nice looking and easy to take care of.
Keep us updated on the Mbu! And keep in mind, filters don't remove waste from the water, they just gather some of it up in one spot and create water movement, the waste is still dissolving into the water. So you still have to do water changes and gravel cleanings to get the stuff that settles to the bottom.
Keep us updated on the Mbu! And keep in mind, filters don't remove waste from the water, they just gather some of it up in one spot and create water movement, the waste is still dissolving into the water. So you still have to do water changes and gravel cleanings to get the stuff that settles to the bottom.
Hi Just to let you know I got the tank home safely but plans changing as to its location. Now going in the living room and set into a wall so we need to do some small building work which will hopefully be done next week. I am going to keep him with a perruno catfish of roughly the same size so hopefully they will get along. Has anyone ever get a MBU with gars before? Just a thought as for some else to swim round the tank with.
Will keep you posted with progress.
Will keep you posted with progress.
Pufferfun
Sad news I am afraid. I had got the tank setup on Wednesday and started a fishless cycle when yesterday the tank sprang a leak and then exploded across the room. 900l of water and glass everywhere and it moved a broken front and half a side 3ft across the room. Luckily I had just left the room to get a bucket for the leak and the children were in another room. Very scary time and consequently my husband has flatly refused to have another tank. The puffer fortunately was still at the LFS who have been very understanding and are now looking for a new home for him. A sad tale but I wondered is this the normal when a tank springs a leak? I have not heard anymore stories like this don't know about everyone else out there?
Pufferfun