Care Level: Advanced

Temperament: Aggressive

Live Plant Safe: With Caution

General Description: The Freshwater [FW] Mbu Puffer, also known as the Giant Puffer, is another iconic large-growing freshwater pufferish species that originates from rivers and lakes in Africa. Loved for their intelligent and engaging demeanor, the Mbu puffer’s body coloration is typically yellow-golden with a brown maze-like pattern. Usually sold at smaller sizes, an adult Mbu puffer can grow to approximately 24″, making this species a serious commitment in all aspects of aquatic husbandry (please see ‘Diet and Care Requirements’ below). Note: Mbu puffers are known to have a risk of coming down with Ich. All of the Fahaka puffers for sale here at Aquatics Unlimited have gone through an observational period prior to sale to ensure you’re receiving healthy individuals. This species is infrequently available.

Diet Requirements: In the wild Mbu puffers are carnivorous, specifically molluscivores meaning that they consume various shellfish, snails, and clams. A diet made up of various high quality frozen foods is necessary, including pieces of mussel, crab or clam, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and earthworms. Options will vary depending on the size of your specimen. Puffers should be regularly fed snails, or other hard-shelled items, to ensure their teeth do not become overgrown which can cause health complications. Mbu puffers are notorious for becoming greedy and will often learn to “beg” for food, but feeding only once a day should be exercised for juveniles. Adult specimens may only need to be fed a couple times a week. Do not feed any form of mammalian/poultry meat (e.g., beef or chicken) as certain lipids in these cannot be metabolized by your puffer and these food items do not naturally occur in their diet. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your puffer. This species may ignore freeze-dried foods.

Care Requirements: An established minimum 120 to 125 gallon aquarium is ideal for a small Mbu puffer. The true long term accomodations for this species as an adult is an aquarium no less than 300 gallons. This species should not be introduced into a biologically immature aquarium, as a Mbu puffer is intolerable of nitrite or ammonia. Weekly water changes are necessary to keep water parameters favorable (Nitrates < 20 ppm), as these fish are messy eaters and larger specimens will produce a considerable amount of waste. Equipping the aquarium with a canister filter, or a sump system, could also make routine maintenance easier. A Mbu puffer will be relatively indifferent to decor, especially as an adult, but some stacked rocks to create caves for younger specimens to hide, or driftwood, may add some pizzazz to the aquarium. A lot of unobstructed and open swimming space should be of priority, and the aquarium needs to be well oxygenated. A sandy or fine substrate is best because this species can spend a considerable amount of time resting on the bottom, especially after a meal. The Mbu puffer is too aggressive to be kept with other livestock — it is one that truly does best as a solitary specimen. If a hobbyist wants to risk housing this species with other fish, the aquarium size would need to be more than 500 gallons and tank mates should be too fast for a Mbu puffer to catch. While a Mbu puffer won’t seek to harm live plants, some may get damanged in their wake. Recommended water conditions, 74-78° F, KH 10-25, pH 7.0-8.0.

Purchase Size: Medium: 3” to 4”

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.