Doesn't Look Like A Mbu...

[misty dawn]

I bought this puffer a while back from the LFS... they said he was an MBU. However everything I have looked up on them seems to be contrary. Does anyone have an idea what he might be? He is about five inches long and has leopard spots.

 

[Fella]

That fish is either a very large Tetraodon nigroviridis, or Tetraodon sabahensis (although details on these are vague) or simply a Tetraodon unidentified species.

Could the shop tell you where it was imported from?

 

[misty dawn]

They aren't very reputable.. when I bought him he was infected with ich. They really didn't give me any info on him other than that he was an MBU.
I have seen a picture of a Sabhensis and was wondering if he might be one since he resembled it.. though like you said there is very little info on those.

 

[Fella]

They aren't very reputable.. when I bought him he was infected with ich. They really didn't give me any info on him other than that he was an MBU.

It's certainly not an Mbu, so it won't grow that big.

What water conditions was he in, fresh, brackish, marine? And what do you plan to keep him in? As it's not clear exactly what species it is, i might try and shoot for 1.005 and see how he gets on.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

he looks hungry. what are you feeding him and how often?

 

[misty dawn]

He was in brackish at the LFS. The tank I have him in is only temporary, I have a 55 gallon cycling... We plan on getting an even larger tank, I want to find out what he is so I know the min. size required.

he looks hungry. what are you feeding him and how often?

When I got him from the LFS he had Ich.. he really didn't fare well and I really thought he was going to die. He lost a lot of weight and wouldn't eat. Now he is as voracious as ever. We feed him shrimp, goldfish, snails and mussels. He looks a lot better than he did.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

blech, leave out the goldfish. those are actually pretty bad for your fish and increase the risk of disease big time. plus, most puffers aren't really piscavorous and should just be fed "crunchy" foods that isn't to say they won't eat a tankmate once in while! but it's best to not feed them fish on purpose.

 

[misty dawn]

blech, leave out the goldfish. those are actually pretty bad for your fish and increase the risk of disease big time. plus, most puffers aren't really piscavorous and should just be fed "crunchy" foods that isn't to say they won't eat a tankmate once in while! but it's best to not feed them fish on purpose.

yeah.. I know, the stores around here were out of snails so we were feeding him the fish. Atleast they weren't crowded feeder fish, we have had them in an aqaurium for quite some time and they have been disease free. He ate a few of his smaller tank mates.. the only thing that seems safe is our sucker because he is spikey and hides.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

blech, leave out the goldfish. those are actually pretty bad for your fish and increase the risk of disease big time. plus, most puffers aren't really piscavorous and should just be fed "crunchy" foods that isn't to say they won't eat a tankmate once in while! but it's best to not feed them fish on purpose.

yeah.. I know, the stores around here were out of snails so we were feeding him the fish. Atleast they weren't crowded feeder fish, we have had them in an aqaurium for quite some time and they have been disease free. He ate a few of his smaller tank mates.. the only thing that seems safe is our sucker because he is spikey and hides.

yeah... he's probably one of the species that really can't be kept with anything else. this bigger tank you were planning to get--were you planning on keeping just the puffer in it? that's what i would strongly recommend.

also, have you read about feeding puffers people food? pretty much any seafood that's sold at the local market is ok for feeding so long as it hasn't been seasoned or pre-cooked (gotta watch out for salt, butter and all those other goodies). frozen seafood is good too, just thaw it completely before feeding.

 

[misty dawn]

blech, leave out the goldfish. those are actually pretty bad for your fish and increase the risk of disease big time. plus, most puffers aren't really piscavorous and should just be fed "crunchy" foods that isn't to say they won't eat a tankmate once in while! but it's best to not feed them fish on purpose.

yeah.. I know, the stores around here were out of snails so we were feeding him the fish. Atleast they weren't crowded feeder fish, we have had them in an aqaurium for quite some time and they have been disease free. He ate a few of his smaller tank mates.. the only thing that seems safe is our sucker because he is spikey and hides.

yeah... he's probably one of the species that really can't be kept with anything else. this bigger tank you were planning to get--were you planning on keeping just the puffer in it? that's what i would strongly recommend.

also, have you read about feeding puffers people food? pretty much any seafood that's sold at the local market is ok for feeding so long as it hasn't been seasoned or pre-cooked (gotta watch out for salt, butter and all those other goodies). frozen seafood is good too, just thaw it completely before feeding.

I would be afraid to put much else in there with him, I wouldn't want to see him or anything living with him get hurt.. I was wondering about the frozen seafood we definitely have a ton of it here(seattle), he just really loves the chase. I'll have to see what I can find. Thank you for your help.

 

[sandfire]

That looks like a Tetraodon sabahensis to me, they do require a little salt in the water. I have read they are quite aggressive as well so I would not risk putting anything else in the tank as it will be seen as food.

There is a local Fish shop by me that has two for sale a good 9 inches in lengh, but they are in a very sorry state I was tempted to get one but I don't think they will last. The shop has them in full marine conditions but they are not doing too well. They had them listed as Giant Puffers, had no idea where they came from, what their latin names were or how to keep one. Apparently they sold a third to a man with a Red Tailed catfish....oh dear

Do you mind me asking where you got that one from?

 

[DarkEntity]

It looks like a Sabahensis, im sure Hilly on either this or the Puffer Forum has one.

 

[misty dawn]

That looks like a Tetraodon sabahensis to me, they do require a little salt in the water. I have read they are quite aggressive as well so I would not risk putting anything else in the tank as it will be seen as food.

There is a local Fish shop by me that has two for sale a good 9 inches in lengh, but they are in a very sorry state I was tempted to get one but I don't think they will last. The shop has them in full marine conditions but they are not doing too well. They had them listed as Giant Puffers, had no idea where they came from, what their latin names were or how to keep one. Apparently they sold a third to a man with a Red Tailed catfish....oh dear

Do you mind me asking where you got that one from?

I have salted his aquarium and he seems to be fine. I got it from a local feed store(outside Seattle), I only go there if I am desperate to find something because they are known for keeping their animals in poor conditions and spreading disease. I probably won't be adding any other fish to his tank unless I am certain he won't be aggressive towards it. He likes to bite anything that goes in there including my thermocouple.

He does look a lot like Hilly's T. Sabahensis.

 

[Rocker]

Just to echo what has been said.

This a is a T.sabahensis and is cropping up more and more on the fish lists. It is not labelled with a scientific name but with the common name of Giant Puffer, hence the confusion with the Mbu.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

what's the size expectations for one of these beauties? (we really ought to campaign to get a new common name of "Jaguar Puffer" those spots are just to die for!)