The Puffer Forum

I'm always seeing threads about Mbu problems in too small tanks and people who don't have the option to upgrade to a 1,000 gallon tank. But might it be possible to keep a Mbu outside in a 1,000 gallon (or more) pond, like koi? Or how about a converted swimming pool? Is such a thing feasible and less expensive than getting or building such a large tank? I'm not sure it would work in a place where it freezes in winter, but further south (like here in Houston, TX), perhaps it's a good solution. As long as the homeowner avoids using fertilizers and pesticides around the pond, of course.

I'm not planning to get a Mbu myself, I'm just curious if there's a reason this option has not been explored.

By the way, just what would be the dimensions of a thousand gallon tank? I don't think I've ever seen one past 500 gallons.

I think its the temperature more then anything.

flamesofifreet wrote:I think its the temperature more then anything.

Agreed. Making a 1000 gallon pond is easy, maintaining the temp will be the thing, you can easily buy a big pond heater, don't know how much it would cost to keep the thing running, it wouldnt be cheap.

Also to keep it cool in the summer seasons. If you lived in an area where the temp was constant all year it could possibly work but highly unlikely.

Are koi really resistant to temperature fluctuations and temperature extremes then? I've always wondered how they manage in the summers here, but the ones I've seen seemed fine. Or maybe the depth of the pond and shade help regulate the temperature?

Does that mean that the temperature is pretty constant in the Mbu's natural habitat?

Depth of water helps, my Koi pond is 6.5ft deep at one end and 2ft at the other, the use of floating plants provides shade in the 2 weeks of summer in the UK and if they get too hot they can always retreat to the depths. Same things could be applied to an Mbu pond.

You would imagine as everywhere that the temperature in it's natural habitat will fluctuate and it would get quite hot but what it does if it gets too hot I honestly have no idea.

If they make a pond heater, they probably have a pond chiller (or other industrial use chiller).

marfisa wrote:Are koi really resistant to temperature fluctuations and temperature extremes then? I've always wondered how they manage in the summers here, but the ones I've seen seemed fine. Or maybe the depth of the pond and shade help regulate the temperature?

Does that mean that the temperature is pretty constant in the Mbu's natural habitat?

Koi's are just really good with temperature. They can't live without the depth though.

Lets not forget the teeth!

Neighbor's dogs, little kids, the mailman..

You have to ask what business a mailman has wading through your Mbu pond to deliver the mail.

LMAO

I would think that if you lived somewhere that stays warm all year and the pond was deep enough to avoid major fluctuations you should be fine. I kept an Oscar in my pond in Michigan for a summer and he did fine. Your only problem might be with keeping the water clean since doing water changes on such a big pond might be a pain. Lots of plants would be my guess.

Water changes are quite easy on a pond, my pond filter has drainage valves, run a hose to the outside drain open the valves and the pump does all the work. I do a 1000 gallon water change ever 6-8 weeks on my pond, takes a few hours to refill it though, hosepipe through the water filter slows the flow right down.