The Puffer Forum

I've fallen completely in love with Mbus after seeing the one they had at the Shedd Aquarium. Honestly, the whole reason I went to the aquarium was to see the Mbu So now I've started saving up for my very own Mbu tank.
I found this article here:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/d ... tank_1.php It's a DIY 1700gallon shark tank (which I'll modify to be freshwater of course). I realize it'll take me quite a while to get everything paid for and set up (which is good because I'm still living in an apartment now, lol).
Does the tank look okay for a Mbu?
And would I be able to keep other fish with my Mbu since the tank is so large?

I've seen that shark tank article. It seems like a good building plan.

Have you read the Mbu article by Manitus and there is also a sticky in this forum about them? 1700 gallons would be a good size, definately, but you'd probably need a reinforced concrete slab to hold something like that.. something you can really only have if you build your own house or add on.

Since when does the Shedd have a Mbu? Last time I was there they had a Fahaka and some huge SAP's.. I really need to get back there!

I think I've read through Manitus's article like 3 times now, lol.

I'd keep the tank in the basement, I'm looking at houses with either already finished basements or ones that -could- be finished.

The Mbu they have is so awesome. It's huge. <3 They have it labeled as something dumb but it's definitely an Mbu.

Have you considered an indoor pond if you're looking at putting it in a basement.

An indoor pond would be nice if your not planning on any other pets like cats or dogs.

I have a dog now and I plan on getting a cat soon. And since the basement would be my "studio" I'd want my cat and my dog to be down there with me, so I don't know if I'd trust a pond. I know my dog wouldn't touch it, she's terrified of water, maybe I could just keep my cat upstairs then, I'm sure it wouldn't mind.

I found this indoor pond here:
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic59671-30-1.aspx

Does that look okay? It's a DIY 1000gallon.

In all honesty, I wouldn't go the pond route.

Too risky for any visitor to lose a few fingers (or a hand), imagine if a small child ran over to it before anyone could stop them.

Plus of course the fish could jump out and die.

And the viewing would be a problem too, you couldn't see them other than from above.. so you don't really get the joy of glancing up and admiring your fish swimming gracefully (or begging for food).

I agree, the indoor pond is a bit "lackluster", to say the least. It'd be a shame to have an Mbu and not be able to see it other than from the top.
Not a bad temporary option, though.

The 1700 gallon would possibly be ok for a pair of Mbu even(especially if you add a 300 or 400 gallon sump for water changes), the one video I have of them in the wild shows them resting friendly like next to each other.

Sweet idea, but what would you do if they didn't get along? Build another 1700 gallon tank?

I was wondering if I could keep two together. I wasn't sure if the 1700gallons would be enough. If they didn't get along, knowing me, I'd probably build another tank, haha.

What else could I keep with a Mbu? I keep hearing completely different things about their temperament, one person will say their peaceful and another will say their extremely aggressive. I guess it depends on the particular fish?
Would cichlids be to aggressive? What about a group of Discus? Plecos? Catfish? What about keeping him with a small group of freshwater rays (my other obsession), or would that be too risky?

Discus are too delicate & need perfect water parameters. I do 90% weekly WC on mine. It all depends on the puffer in question.

the tank looks great and the size would be perfect but you will have to think long and hard as to how to decorate it, I think a good cheap option would be playsand as substrate, and large bits of dead tree driftwood. IMO its also complexity of environment that will keep them happy and interested in their tank. If I were able to build it I would think of having a kind of bank that slopes up to the back that you could get some plants in, some kind of boxed out ledge that gives a shallow shelf. In the deaper parts large rocks would be ideal. I have found that Clooney like to have somewhere to shelter at nightime, in my tabk he has to make do with plantc ocver but you could get creative and build little hidey holes.

As for tankmates you can see from my videos that Clooney is fine with rainbow fish and congo tetras and even gets bullied by my sailfin plec. He is completely docile but some Mbu can be aggressive. If you wanted to try and go with the correct theme these Congo Tetras in a school of 20 or so would be great.

Not only are you gonna have to spend big on the tank you will need to consider a decent filter setup, thinking sump and the costs of furnishing the tank.

If I had the money i would do it in an instant, good luck with it and let us know how its going