Tetraodon
mbu
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| Common Names: |
Mbu Puffer |
Also Known As: |
Giant Puffer |
| Synonyms: |
Tetrodon mbu |
Family: |
Tetraodontidae |
| Origin: |
Africa, congo |
Main Ecosystem: |
Congo River and Lake Tanganyika |
| Salinity: |
Freshwater |
Temperament: |
Mild for a puffer, though they cannot be trusted with other fish because that fish may become viewed as food |
| PH: |
6.8-7.8 |
Temperature: |
76-82F (24-27C) |
| Maximum Size: |
30 inches (76cm) |
Minimum Tank: |
1000 Gallons(US) |
| Activity: |
Hunter/Seeker |
Lifespan: |
10 |
| Gender: |
No sexual dimorphism |
Breeding: |
Unknown and impractical due to adult size of puffer. |
| Diet: |
Since these puffers are often purchased very young, feeding will change as they age and grow. While small, feed snails, krill and commercial frozen foods. Once they pass 6″ (not counting tail), feeding should expand to include people shrimp and foods from the grocery fish counter – broken off crab and lobster legs, mussels, small clams, etc. with some Jumbo freeze dried prepared krill (presoaked). Continue to offer them snails, however, as they grow larger they will only eat larger snails, ~ 1/2 inches in diameter. |
| Care: |
This is the largest species of freshwater puffer available. Like all puffers, they are sensitive to nitrites and ammonia and should only be introduced into a fully cycled aquarium. Because they are often purchased small, feeding will change as they grow. |
| Notes: |
This is a very large and active fish. They require a tank large enough to allow them to turn freely, which would mean a tank of around 1000 gallons size once full grown. Unless you are prepared to invest a lot of money into care and housing, this species should be avoided. If their teeth overgrow, a trim may be required to prevent the puffer from becoming unable to eat. Thanks to RTR of Thepufferforum for contributing to the information in this profile. |
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