The Puffer Forum

Might be a silly question, but i dont want my mbu getting bored of his surroundings.

At the moment he has a rather large bit of bogwood to swim in and out of but i heard that putting a pot or pipe of somesort keeps them amused.

Can anyone recommend a good toy

Pinholed ping-pong balls with a bit of water in them, but still floating, barely, plus one or two intact balls above the surface. Found that years ago from one of the aquarium mags for Oscars, and tried it for the mbu as well. Just like a toddler in a high chair or playpen, "watch the people retrieve the toys from the floor". Don't use any that crumple in adding water - if crumpled, the fish may be able to eat the plastic (I used a syringe and needle to add water, but not everybody has access to those).

What an excellent idea!!

Thanks for that RTR

RTR -

He actually played with them?

Attention-getting device - rather that always wagging against the glass closest to me, he would bounce the balls out of his (yes, open-topped) tank. Usually with his head, but also by spitting water. Quite similar to Archers, hunter-predator puffers are master spitters, it is a snail IDing technique.

RTR wrote:Usually with his head, but also by spitting water.

Did you discourage the spitting? How large was this guy?

I can't help but smile at the mental image of a Puffer playing make-the-human-fetch… or Ping-Pong.

Just over two feet. Not a trivial fish, more of a wet puppy dog. Feed me! Pay attention to me! It is my turn!

And every bit as messy as any pup. When a fish that big gets the wags, you get the wet vac, not a paper towel.