The Puffer Forum

As I looked at the pufferpedia it says that the Mbu Puffer needs a 1000 US gallon tank being at 26 inches (67 cm). This all seems fine and dandy until I looked at Mappa page of which is the same exact size and yet the tank requirement is much smaller. It makes no since whatsoever. I don't understand why one type puffer would need a tank much larger than another type that grows to the same length. I just wish someone could straighten this out for me. I just don't understand this.

Maybe you find the answer if you read a bit more in the PufferPedia. About the Mappa:
"Care: Not many details known, other than large tanks of at least 6ft in length are required. "
It seems like it's a puffer not many know much about. The Mbu, on the other hand, is more common, and because it that, we know more about it too.
Differences in tank sizes can also come from the knowledge of how much waste the puffer produces, the activity level of the puffer, and the temperament of the species. I guess FW/BW/SW will have influence on it too (I have actually no idea about SW puffers, or SW at all, so I'm blank here). The Mbu is a FW fish, Mappa is SW. It's not only the length of the fish that determines how large tank they need.

Troender wrote:It seems like it's a puffer not many know much about. The Mbu, on the other hand, is more common, and because it that, we know more about it too.

I guess I will give that one. Then again there are regional differences in this case.

Troender wrote: Differences in tank sizes can also come from the knowledge of how much waste the puffer produces, the activity level of the puffer, and the temperament of the species.

I see that maybe that it would increase the amount some but just the vast difference for the tank size of two types of puffers that are approximately the same size. I would like to know the criterion used in cases like these.

Troender wrote: The Mbu is a FW fish, Mappa is SW.

Knew that already.

Troender wrote: It's not only the length of the fish that determines how large tank they need.

I would agree but I just don't understand what would be able to create such a vast difference between the two types.

I'm pretty sure mbus are much heavier fish with a much heartier appetite producing much more waste. Also mbus can be kept in smaller tanks but require a huge amount of filtration. SW tanks often have natural filtration along with the normal filtration and people use refugiums, and sumps a lot more with SW tanks then FW (at least IME)

flamesofifreet wrote:I'm pretty sure mbus are much heavier fish with a much heartier appetite producing much more waste.

Good this explains some of the difference.

flamesofifreet wrote:SW tanks often have natural filtration along with the normal filtration and people use refugiums, and sumps a lot more with SW tanks then FW (at least IME)

So would it work out better if I were to use a sump and or refugiums? I also have been inspired to ask would a protein skimmer be able to function in a freshwater tank?

Skimmers don't work on anything with salinity lower then 1.0019 (I think thats it)
Using sumps or refugiums would definitely help, but a mbu would still need a really large tank, and that would be a ton of money on filtration alone.

The Mbu 1000 gallons was just an opinion by someone and never a practical experience of tank size, they can and have been kept in smaller successfully. If you had an Mbu that only reached 22" in total size then a 1000 gallons would be massive overkill. as 30" specimen which is probably very unlikely in aquarium unles you get a specimen that gets absolutely massive would need a lot bigger just purely for turning room. The pufferpedia recommendations are a guide only. You make your own mind up on what you want to do.

flamesofifreet wrote:Skimmers don't work on anything with salinity lower then 1.0019 (I think thats it)
Using sumps or refugiums would definitely help, but a mbu would still need a really large tank, and that would be a ton of money on filtration alone.

I think you meant 1.019, you put an extra 0 I've heard you can go as low as 1.018, but those are absolute minimums, the higher the s.g., the better the skimmer will work.
1.0019 is practically fresh water, very light brackish.

I think the 1000G for Mbu arguement is pretty much as Hilly says. Its really to highlight that these guys would be better suited to a tropcal pond rather than a tank. Having kept one and knowing that they would be cruising over huge areas in the wild, I think regular tank does not do them justice. I personally would look for a basemant style tank

Nusquam wrote:

flamesofifreet wrote:Skimmers don't work on anything with salinity lower then 1.0019 (I think thats it)
Using sumps or refugiums would definitely help, but a mbu would still need a really large tank, and that would be a ton of money on filtration alone.

I think you meant 1.019, you put an extra 0 I've heard you can go as low as 1.018, but those are absolute minimums, the higher the s.g., the better the skimmer will work.
1.0019 is practically fresh water, very light brackish.

Yeah thats waht I meant. I forgot to check it

Hilly wrote:If you had an Mbu that only reached 22" in total size then a 1000 gallons would be massive overkill.

That's something I can agree on.

Hilly wrote:The Mbu 1000 gallons was just an opinion by someone and never a practical experience of tank size, they can and have been kept in smaller successfully.

Makes sense but that's not to say I would put them in anything less than a 260 gallon.

Hilly wrote: You make your own mind up on what you want to do.

Even though I disagree, and have trouble believing the size needed, I would still want to approximate the size needed.

Hilly wrote: The pufferpedia recommendations are a guide only.

Yes I knew that.

manutius wrote: Its really to highlight that these guys would be better suited to a tropcal pond rather than a tank.

I would love to do that but I still think that as of this current time that would be less likely than the moon being made out of cheese.

manutius wrote:Having kept one and knowing that they would be cruising over huge areas in the wild, I think regular tank does not do them justice.

But what makes this type any different than the others. Most types of puffers do that anyway. That said I do think though that any fishes of any type should be given the most amount of space possible and should try to stick to the recommendations.

manutius wrote: I personally would look for a basemant style tank

I would love to have a tank like that but I still think that as of this current time that would be less likely than the moon being made out of cheese of which could be harvested on a mass scale.

ive always wondered why there is such a big diff in tank size between the mbu and the Fahaka. mbu for 1000 gallons and Fahaka 120 gallons and isnt even double size but suggested tank size is 10 times bigger.... but yea its really opinion. bigger is always better for any fish

I remember reading something here on TPF, right after I joined last year, about someone who had had a Mbu, and was feeling guilty because it had some trouble with a fin, because of the lack of space to move around in. If anyone can remember the real story, we maybe could get another view on the space the Mbu actually need. It could be one of the moderators who had this story. At least it was someone who was very well known here at TPF, I remember that.

Now, that wasn't difficult to find. It was stickied under Freshwater puffers: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... ?f=4&t=150

I'll be putting one in something like an 8 x 2.5 x 2 which is about 300 gallons. Single specimen only, starting with 2 canister filters running and then adding a couple more as he grows.