The Puffer Forum

Hi all,

Ok I've got a 5" Mbu in a 4x2x2 tank. I know he will need a bigger tank eventually and i'm already pricing up some new tanks. Anyway he's in there with 2 catfish a torpedo barb and a checked barb and a figure 8 puffer. (this was rescued from a friends tank after his fin had been nipped.)

He's been in the tank for around 2 weeks now and everything has been fine. I decided to go away for new year for a few days, i've just got back to find my mbu is missing about 3 of his fins. when i say missing the 3 look like they are missing about 80% of his fin I'm really upset that no one in my house has called to tell me and that i've come back home to this. I'm not sure what i can do as his fins look so damaged.

Please please please can someone help me as i really don't want to lose this puffer.

Anything else you need to know please ask away.

Tank stats are

No3 Nitrate - 25
No2 Nitrite - 0
GH Hardness - >21
KH Carbonate - 6
PH Acidity - 7.2
Cl2 Chlorine - 0

in 4 weeks the only change has been the nitrate which has been in the range of 10-25

I dun really know to say... The only thing to do will be give away the other fishes or the mbu.. There's no way to keep all of them in there. If your mbu survive to a bigger size, probably he's going chew up the rest of them. I dun know what catfish u have there but they generally get huge too. so, either way, lose the mbu or the other fish. In the mean time, pls seperate the mbu if u can and treat him for the wounds.

they are spotted featherfin. the catfish are from my dads tank he put them in there while i was away and now stocked his tank back up so i can't even put them back I've always wanted a mbu and i'm willing to do anything i can to keep him happy. I've managed to move the figure 8 + the two barbs into an old tank but it's only an aqua one 320. So in my main big tank i just have the mbu and the catfish now.

my question is what medication is best for them? and what do i need to do in ordered to help aid in the repair of his fins?

Since you know that there are stocking issues I'll let that be for now (though F8s are brackish fish). Puffers really do best on their own.

Do you have another tank you can move the mbu into? This is likely to keep happening. Adding Melafix into the water will help with his fins. Fins typically grow back, it depends on how far they are bitten down. Only time will tell how much will grow back. Puffers also need cleaner water (what are the nitrate levels in your tap water?). Their nitrate levels should be less than 20ppm and ideally less than 10. Clean water and appropriate tank mates are all that's needed for the fins to grow back.

Hi Flutter,

Yes i'm aware of the stocking levels. I mentioned just before you posted that i've managed to move the figure 8 and the barbs into another tank. I just thought with the F8 being so small compared to the mbu that he wouldn't bother him. It seems i was wrong.

I'll go get some melafix in an hour or so and start treating straight away. Would you suggest say 20% water changes daily ? i've been doing 2x20% every week.

my tap water has a high level of nitrates hence why i do more water changes.

So really then, I just have to sit and wait?

Seen him swim for the first time today, but it looked like a struggle for him. he seems to be doing alot of just laying around

hope the mbu gets better soon. a larger tank hopefully will be in the works since they need approx 1000 gallons. a fahaka would be perfect for that tank. boy is there going to be hell to pay if the mbu gets better lol

2x 20% is nowhere near enough. 50% weekly is minimum in a properly stocked tank.

So really then, I just have to sit and wait?

Aquarium salt, IF it is OK for your other fish (check on this species by species), or Melafix can prevent and heal mild infections and may help with healing. A high-protein diet is also helpful, but if you're feeding a good puffer diet, then that's already high-protein.

Keep a really close eye on the wounds, if they start looking fuzzy you may need to use something other than melafix, like maracyn/maracyn 2.
What are you tap nitrate levels?
If you could plant the tank, the plants will consume nitrate.

I'm currently using melafix now in the hope that it will help with regrowth of his fins. Poor mbu My tap readings are using 20ish. The tank has 5 live plants and 5 plastic. Reason for this he keeps eating them haha.

But thanks for everyones comments. Since other fish have been removed, he seems to be moving around the tank instead of hiding. He's also eaten a mussel too. I'll be keeping a very close eye on him. it's a shame though because he was the best looking mbu i've seen while looking to buy one. Just my luck this would happen

But will keep people posted and will be asking for help as soon as i need it. Thanks everyone

Losing fins generally won't kill a fish, unless they get infected. The stress of constant picking at & harassment by other fish (my guess is the barbs), will lower your puffer's immune system, which will lead to it's eventual demise. Puffers really belong in a solitary tank or at least with tank mates that will not bother them or compete for food.

Barbs are schooling fish & become very aggressive fin-nippers when not kept in appropriate numbers.

Some reading on your mbu:
viewtopic.php?f=68&t=28466
viewtopic.php?f=56&t=150

I blame your little f8. They are brackish water and not suitable to that tank in the first place. Just move it to another tank with an sp of around 1.003 and treat the mbu's wounds and everything should be fine.

whoops. re-read posts. you moved it already. sorry about that. but seriously he needs brackish water which I don't think your barbs will tolerate.

Basic water change math, FYI:

1X 20% partials daily is much, much better than 50% weekly.

2x 20% partials daily in approaching the effectiveness of flow-through

20% partials 3X per week is close to but very slightly better than one 50% partial weekly.

Do we need to do another short course in water change math?