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.
Re: Help with Mbu
Have to say, i thought the same as you..... he likes to dance across the tank, especially at feeding time... 5ft just isnt enough. His new tank will be 8 x 3 x 3. If i can do it, i'm going to try for 10ft, it just means i have to perhaps move the fireplace a little... or maybe just get a smaller fire fixture. Small sacrifice to make really!! That said with a baby on the way, budget may well insist on only an 8ft. Perhaps friends and family will donate to the boomer charity when the time comes!! Either that or i'll start charging people to watch him eat. Makes me chuckle how friends always find it amazing to watch him crunch through a mussel or 2!!
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manutius
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1316
- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:49 pm
- My Puffers: RIP Clooney the Mbu :(
- Location: Southend essex, UK
- Contact:
Re: Help with Mbu
I know exactly what you mean. A 10 ft tank would be great, but the idea of filtration and decorating a tank of the size is just as daunting as getting the tank made I think. Just imagine how much gravel you would need and loads of oversized bits of bgowood and plenty of tall growing plants and then theres the lighting!!! This is why they should not be on general sale in my view, a commitment on that scale is something amny people cannot match. I wish you and Boomer the best of luck with it and congrats on the baby. I like the idea of charging for veiwing though 
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mikeosoft
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:35 pm
- Location: Farmington Hills, MI
Re: Help with Mbu
I was talking with a LFS owner the other day that deals a lot with puffers. He told me some interesting information about these white spots.
I'm not sure if this is actually true, but its an interesting theory to say the least.
They have a Mbu in the shop that is starting to show the same white spots. He said that it's the puffer trying to release and over-abundance of its toxin and it's directly related to water quality. Aparently during the dry-season the water quality drops, and since the water levels are much lower, the puffer is more vunerable to predators. Because of this their toxin levels are higher during this period and for some reason it causes those white bumps.
I'm not sure if this is actually true, but its an interesting theory to say the least.
They have a Mbu in the shop that is starting to show the same white spots. He said that it's the puffer trying to release and over-abundance of its toxin and it's directly related to water quality. Aparently during the dry-season the water quality drops, and since the water levels are much lower, the puffer is more vunerable to predators. Because of this their toxin levels are higher during this period and for some reason it causes those white bumps.
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manutius
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1316
- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:49 pm
- My Puffers: RIP Clooney the Mbu :(
- Location: Southend essex, UK
- Contact:
Re: Help with Mbu
its an interesting idea but I don't think it makes a lot of sense in practice. Why would less poison be a good thing and as the poison is generated by bacteria and isn't under direct control of the puffer this too makes the idea less feasable. Also if we consider that all puffers kept in captivity are completely or almost poison free due to them not coming into contact with the necessary bacteria because of the diet we feed them this also puts the boot in on his "theory".
Also all of the river systems will still have a considerable amount of water in them even in the dry season so I personally can't see how the pollution levels are up as they should be well diluted and the flow will keep it moving.
I am pretty certain that these marks are as we have been saying but just minor admage to the gentle fin rays
Also all of the river systems will still have a considerable amount of water in them even in the dry season so I personally can't see how the pollution levels are up as they should be well diluted and the flow will keep it moving.
I am pretty certain that these marks are as we have been saying but just minor admage to the gentle fin rays
Re: Help with Mbu
Hi
I am pleased to say that I have had Ziggy just over a month now and have not seen anymore white lumps and the ones he had have disappeared, so I think it was just due to the move. He seems happy in his new home and likes his food!!
I am pleased to say that I have had Ziggy just over a month now and have not seen anymore white lumps and the ones he had have disappeared, so I think it was just due to the move. He seems happy in his new home and likes his food!!
Pufferfun
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manutius
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1316
- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:49 pm
- My Puffers: RIP Clooney the Mbu :(
- Location: Southend essex, UK
- Contact:
Re: Help with Mbu
excellent stuff, I'm pleased all is well