The Puffer Forum

Hello everyone, i am new to this forum lark, so please be patient!!!

I have got a MBU he is about four inches long, so just a baby, i have noticed, when looking at him very closely, that there is what looks like a small white spine sticking out of his back. He is one of the family now, so i want to get this prop sorted as soon as poss to cause him minimum stress.
He seems to be quite happy at the mo, he is still eating everything he can and he is always busy and active.

I also have a baby green terror in the tank, who has recently over the last week become a bit more aggressive towards Geoffrey, i have seen him barging him a few times recently, could this be the cause???

There is 0 Ammonia and Nitrite in the tank, and nitrate is at about 30-40 ppm.

I have had Geoffrey for about three months, and the tank was running for about a month before i got him, gradually adding a few small fish before i put Geoffrey in.

If you need any more info please let me know, i have not managed to find anyone in my LFS or other near by shops who has heard of anything like this.
If anyone can help you are a superstar!!!!!!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this

regards

richard.

What size tank is it? Can you get a picture? Does it look like he's been damaged or is it just a spine sticking up?

Oh, and welcome.

The Tank is 250 l, i dont know what that is in gallons. (you lot work fast round here) i am impressed!!!!
cheers
rich.

That's about 66 gallons. You do know that you'll need about 1000 for a mbu, yes?

What about the other questions? Does he look damaged or is it just a spine sticking up? Can you get a picture for us?

What other tankmates does he have? Sounds like the tank already might be too small.

How big is he now? They really grow fast & will outgrow that tank quickly. I'd also try to get the nitrates <20, with larger, more frequent water changes & better filtration. Please read the sticky on mbus in the FW Puffer forum.

As far as the spike, puffers do sometimes get a spine out of place but keep an eye on it, as they can get "ingrown" at times.

I will be getting a new tank when i buy a new house, will be getting the biggest tank i can fit in there.
I cant see any damage near the spine pokage, and he is otherwise unhurt. The spine is so small i dont think you would see it in a picture, def not with a camera like mine. I have noticed some small whitish yellowy patches on the skin, they seem to appear in the centre of his dark pattern spots (if you see what i mean and i am not waffling). I dont
know if this is him growing and his pattern changing or damage.
There are a couple of little cat fish in there are a few little tetras to look pretty.
I appreciate that as the fish grow they will need more space, but they are all pretty small at the mo, i am also very sad with waterchanges and prob change 30% every three days.

Hope this helps, and thanks for your help so far!!!

Does he seem to behave out of character?

I'm wondering whether its some sort of external parasite but without more info it is very hard to answer your Q's.

Right, it its hard to tell without photos or more info. Your nitrates are definately on the high end, puffers don't do well with them at all, so keep up the water changes and get a larger tank ASAP, and/or move those tankmates out.

Mbu's grow very very fast, and even though he's small now, you are already doing damage to his growing body by the restraints of the tank size, especially if you are having trouble keeping the nitrates low (ideally, for puffers, they should be 10 or lower, more than that and they start to have problems such as body fungus, etc, which it sounds like part of what you might be seeing). Elevated nitrates is an obvious sign of overstocking, so your best bet right now is to get a larger tank and leave his tankmates behind in the current on. In the mean time, daily 50% water changes might keep him healthy.

cheers for all your replies guys, you are all very helpful, i know i am no use with out a decent camera, so sorry guys.
AS far as his behavior goes, he seems very happy, maybe a little crazier than usual, but he still eats fine and jumps to the top of the tank as son as i walk through the door.
He does not seem to have changed size much since i have had him, he is definatly filling out a bit.

Does anyone know if their patterns change as they get older??

In the mean time, i will up those water changes, and maybe buy a bigger filter, if you think that would help. I have also started transporting his tank mates to my friends house across the road, that way i can still say hello to them!!

If anyone else has any advice i am taking all this on board, so please keep it coming.

Thanks very much to everyone who has postd on here, your help so far has been wicked!!

thanks again

rich.

Mbu markings do not change with age but are more influenced by mood. I have had my Mbu Clooney for about 3 years and still has the the same great markings. Check the website link in my signature to view some pics of him younger and up to present date.

Yours will grow and grow quick, make sure you feed a varied diet and keep water changes frequent

Just had a look at your pics, he looks very impressive, what was wrong with him in that pic???

Looking at your pics, it looks like the paler spots appearing centrally on Geofferys darker markings happen on Clooney too. So hopefully it is nothing to worry about.
He seems to eat anything i put in the tank for him and he seems to know exactly what food is for him, so hopefully diet will not be a problem.

I take it you are reffering to this picture in this thread, it was a very traumatic couple of weeks for me

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... php?t=7013