Clooney's new favourite is garlic soaked squid FW clams, though I think his ultimate favourite is Crab Claw but he only gets it once a month. I plan to try garden snails too soon
Help with Mbu
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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manutius
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1316
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- My Puffers: RIP Clooney the Mbu :(
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Re: Help with Mbu
Clooney's new favourite is garlic soaked squid FW clams, though I think his ultimate favourite is Crab Claw but he only gets it once a month. I plan to try garden snails too soon
Re: Help with Mbu
Where do you get raw squid from?! Seriously, i struggle to find mussels in this neck of the woods! I have actually started ordering shellfish via the interweb!! Poor mussels are being frozen alive like... but its all i can do!
Let me know how you get on with the snails.... always wanted to try it but just cant do it...
Let me know how you get on with the snails.... always wanted to try it but just cant do it...
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manutius
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Re: Help with Mbu
I feed Clooney a mix of seafood in one bag from the fishmongers that is for Paella that contains, mussels,squid tentacles, squid, prawns. I also get a bag of FW frozen Clams from the fishmongers as well as the odd crab claw. I think R it was Rocker who got various "other fish" products at Tesco's fish counter by asking what else they had besides what was on display. Any decent LFS should stock mussels and cockles frozen for you, phone around mate 
The bag of mixed seafood cost me £5 and I have got through quarter of a bag in one month, the FW clams are £5 too and have lasted over 2 months. Its a much cheaper alternative IMO
The bag of mixed seafood cost me £5 and I have got through quarter of a bag in one month, the FW clams are £5 too and have lasted over 2 months. Its a much cheaper alternative IMO
Re: Help with Mbu
I have a local market fishmonger man, who comes to town every thursday and friday but he cooks everything! Dont actually think he has clams or squid either.... (must check). The only raw shellfish he supplies is mussel... He did offer me some raw octopus on Saturday... I didnt think boomer would be too into that tho...
Has anyone tried their puffer on scallops?
Has anyone tried their puffer on scallops?
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manutius
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Re: Help with Mbu
I'm sure Boomer would eat scallops. Best bet is to try your local supermarket mate
Re: Help with Mbu
I tried Asda and they had some mussels and cockles and clams. It is definately worth going.
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Nick
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Re: Help with Mbu
The walbaums by me has frozen raw squid, "whole gutted octopus"(I kind of want to buy one and wear it on my head as a halloween costume, but I worry it might start stinking too soon) all sizes of shrimp and scallop, clams, mussels, cuttlefish, and a few other really odd things that escape my mind at the moment. First time I saw it that seafood section I was really taken back.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
Re: Help with Mbu
I think i need to have words with my Asda! Unfortunately they dont actually have a fish counter. All they have to offer is whats on the shelf. Mainly cod, haddock, salmon, cooked mussels, raw king prawns, cooked prawns. They do have a seafood mix but i think its cooked and when checking the ingrediants, its not 100% shellfish.
A half hour drive to another Asda means i can buy live mussels but thats it. The LFS i have visited in this area do indeed stock chopped frozen cockles and mussels... but chopped is no good to me... boomer likes to crunch his food!
I'll stick with my ordering shellfish online, buying the raw prawns from asda and harrassing the local fishmongers when they come to town.
A half hour drive to another Asda means i can buy live mussels but thats it. The LFS i have visited in this area do indeed stock chopped frozen cockles and mussels... but chopped is no good to me... boomer likes to crunch his food!
I'll stick with my ordering shellfish online, buying the raw prawns from asda and harrassing the local fishmongers when they come to town.
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manutius
- Former Staff Member
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- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:49 pm
- My Puffers: RIP Clooney the Mbu :(
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Re: Help with Mbu
I am surprised that your LFS cannot order frozen cockles in their shells. They should be able to get it if they have a frozen supplier, for now the shell on prawns will do but they don't prve to be too much of an obstacle to Mbu teeth. How big is boomer now?
Re: Help with Mbu
I never actually thought to ask! I'm not blessed with the best choice in shops up here to be honest. I actually prefer to do the 3 hour round trip to Maidenhead Aquatics in York when buying supplies. Having been spoilt for choice with shops down south, good ones are very few and far between up here.
Boomer is around about 10" approximately (including his most amazing tail). Not 100% as he petrified of the ruler for some bizarre reason!
He can quite happily demolish a mussel, he swallows his king prawns pretty much whole, he enjoys a good fight with a cockle.... but his greatest challenge is the crab claws... they still have to be cracked beforehand....ooo and peas!! So funny to watch him nibble at a pea when he has just gulped down a whole prawn!
I've had him for about 2 years now, he was just 3" (yep he grown 7" in 2 years). When me and hubby split early last year, he nearly went back to the LFS. However the thought of him going to a home with someone who didnt know the first thing about MBU's scared me more than actually looking after him myself! Am no expert in fishkeeping (that was the ex) but i know whats right and what he needs. Including a HUGE tank! This said, i wouldnt recommend an MBU as a beginners fish!
Also, as cute as they are, they should never be an impulse buy either! We did months of research before getting boomer. They arent complicated to look after as such (i'd say marine fish are harder) BUT they do need ALOT of time and attention, as well as space. If you have all 3 of these in abundance then the rewards are second to none. But this is the same with all puffers.
Although i have an MBU and would never give him up now. I have to agree with alot of people on here, there should be a restriction on the sale of them... its just not fair on these little guys.
Ok.. am done now....
Boomer is around about 10" approximately (including his most amazing tail). Not 100% as he petrified of the ruler for some bizarre reason!
He can quite happily demolish a mussel, he swallows his king prawns pretty much whole, he enjoys a good fight with a cockle.... but his greatest challenge is the crab claws... they still have to be cracked beforehand....ooo and peas!! So funny to watch him nibble at a pea when he has just gulped down a whole prawn!
I've had him for about 2 years now, he was just 3" (yep he grown 7" in 2 years). When me and hubby split early last year, he nearly went back to the LFS. However the thought of him going to a home with someone who didnt know the first thing about MBU's scared me more than actually looking after him myself! Am no expert in fishkeeping (that was the ex) but i know whats right and what he needs. Including a HUGE tank! This said, i wouldnt recommend an MBU as a beginners fish!
Also, as cute as they are, they should never be an impulse buy either! We did months of research before getting boomer. They arent complicated to look after as such (i'd say marine fish are harder) BUT they do need ALOT of time and attention, as well as space. If you have all 3 of these in abundance then the rewards are second to none. But this is the same with all puffers.
Although i have an MBU and would never give him up now. I have to agree with alot of people on here, there should be a restriction on the sale of them... its just not fair on these little guys.
Ok.. am done now....
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manutius
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Re: Help with Mbu
I totally agree, did you read my article? It is amazing how big they grow when young but I think an inch or two a year is Clooneys growth rate at present time, I've had him 4.5 years now I think. Coolest fish ever IMO but should not be on sale to Johnny Public 
Re: Help with Mbu
I think your article is brilliant i have to say... if only it were law to make people read stuff like this before they are allowed to go off and buy willy nilly. You get home checks when you adopt cats and dogs... why not fish!
I think boomer is growing steadily.... he'll be in his new tank by the end of the year hopefully. I was actually thinking about changing the dimensions a little. Having seen that ur tank is on the floor, i like the idea, it means i can go taller and perhaps wider that i had planned and still be able to maintain the tank myself. Someone once recommended that a tank of 5ft x 5ft is better than one 7ft x 3ft.... Any thoughts?
Obviously a larger tank means much more time and attention as i mentioned earlier.... you got to be committed at the end of the day!
Ur Clooney is the perfect specimen, so he may not have 1000g living quarters, the fact of the matter is, he is well looked after and very much loved. Having him for 4.5 years is a sure sign of this! I love seeing the photies and watching the films. It somehow reassures me that boomer's reactions to things are normal.... including him eating mussel shell... which used to scare the hell out of me!!
I think boomer is growing steadily.... he'll be in his new tank by the end of the year hopefully. I was actually thinking about changing the dimensions a little. Having seen that ur tank is on the floor, i like the idea, it means i can go taller and perhaps wider that i had planned and still be able to maintain the tank myself. Someone once recommended that a tank of 5ft x 5ft is better than one 7ft x 3ft.... Any thoughts?
Obviously a larger tank means much more time and attention as i mentioned earlier.... you got to be committed at the end of the day!
Ur Clooney is the perfect specimen, so he may not have 1000g living quarters, the fact of the matter is, he is well looked after and very much loved. Having him for 4.5 years is a sure sign of this! I love seeing the photies and watching the films. It somehow reassures me that boomer's reactions to things are normal.... including him eating mussel shell... which used to scare the hell out of me!!
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crazedpuffer
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Re: Help with Mbu
manutius- how big is clooney now anyway?
boomer-for raw fish have you tried a fishing shop? Just about any store made specially for fishing will have bait which will be good for your puffer.
boomer-for raw fish have you tried a fishing shop? Just about any store made specially for fishing will have bait which will be good for your puffer.
Re: Help with Mbu
Worth a go! Cheers, I'll try it
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manutius
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Re: Help with Mbu
Thanks for you coms guys
Clooney is 17 inches long nose to tail.
For Boomers tank I think 5ft isa bit short. I would gor for a 7x3x3 as minimum, they llove to cruise and 5ft doesn't allow for that really, that just my opinion
Clooney is 17 inches long nose to tail.
For Boomers tank I think 5ft isa bit short. I would gor for a 7x3x3 as minimum, they llove to cruise and 5ft doesn't allow for that really, that just my opinion