The Puffer Forum

im getting a mbu to put in with my fahaka!!!........ JUST KIDDIN! what fish would make good tankmates for a mbu puffer? how bout a silver aro,pbass,blood parrots and a pleco? and how fast do mbu grow?

Do you have a tank ready for a mbu?
Mbus are generally more accepting of tankmates than other FW puffers. Stick with small fast fish.

no tank for life yet, but im not even considering buying one till i do my research, and if a mbu cant go with the fish i listed then im not getting one. yes i know its a gamble putting a mbu with tankmates but surely somebody has to have tried mbu's with larger fish. prob looking at going 600-800g eventually.

Yes, I agree, a quick fish that can keep away from the puffer is what you are looking for. And that is an awesome tank for your little buddy! Do you know how big he is yet?

Given the large tank size you quote I can't see any reason why the fish you suggest couldn't work. I kept mine with congo tetras and rainbow fish, loaches and plecs. Not once was there a problem. London aquarium have one in a tank that is pretty small compared to its tankmates, fully grown arrowana, tinfoil barbs, girraffe catfish and giant gourami. The Mbu was happy bimbling about and seemed indifferent towards the other fish.

If i were to set up a multi species tank I would resaerch african fish and go for an african themed tank

Aggressive fish like Peacock Bass are asking for trouble with an Mbu. They are either gonna bully it to death or get shredded depending on the temprament of the Mbu. Same could be said for Arowana, however that may depend more on the individual Arowana and Mbu, may ignore each other totally. Slow moving fish like Plecos and Bichirs could become lunch or ignored. Probably best off trying something that can move if it wants first and then see what happens with them.

So are you saying that if with peaceful fish they tend to be peaceful but if bullied it'll defend itself & turn on the bully? Just like my dog!

Peacock Bass aren't known for being unaggressive fish, lets say that they just keep on going for the Mbu there's only 2 ways it's gonna react. Take it or retaliate. It's a difficult balance with tryint to group big fish together that are generally all predators and trying to get ones that ignore each other can only really be done by trial and error. You could get an Arowana that doesnt give a toss what it attachs going for everything you could get one that just cruises the top. Generally though Arowana and Mbu's are a bad mix just as Mbu's and Stingray are.

That's a good point actually Hilly, Clooney always got a nudge from my large sailfin plec. He never once acted aggresively the big sofite, however one defensive bite and the plec would have a rather large cleft for sure Fast moving fish are a better choice but I thought maybe if the arrowana was at the top and the mbu mid- bottom they may be ok, but then I have no expreience and know very little about arrowana. Thinking about it filtering a tank of that size with large fish may be more of an issue than compatability

nah filtering would be no big deal, say a 200-300g W/D and a auto water change system. but putting the mbu in with my fish would be a big risk now that i think about it, one bite by the mbu and its over.

LOL my fahaka is such a wuss! He's constantly getting chased out of the 2 caves I have by a large goldspot pleco & a big frontosa. He just moseys along... Every once in a while I'll see a missing piece of caudal or dorsal fin on them though.

Pufferpunk wrote:LOL my fahaka is such a wuss! He's constantly getting chased out of the 2 caves I have by a large goldspot pleco & a big frontosa. He just moseys along... Every once in a while I'll see a missing piece of caudal or dorsal fin on them though.

not mine, if i stick anything in with him its gone quick! and he thinks my finger is a shrimp so i either gotta keep my fingers out of the tank or shove my whole hand in really fast so that he realizes its not food.

Yeah, there aren't a lot of wussy fahakas out there. Mine's a Gentle Giant & I love him!

Mine is sweet so far but he is still a little baby. (4 inches)

Mine is pushing 17 inches and has gotten along with everything so far! (Imaginary just like groovs fire eel)
So yeah back to topic any idea on what tankmates your getting?