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Mbu Puffer

Tetraodon mbu

Freshwater West and central Africa

The undisputed giant among freshwater puffers, sporting intricate labyrinthine yellow-and-black skin patterns. Extremely intelligent and dog-like, it requires a massive tank, heavy-duty filtration, and constant hard-shelled molluscs and crustaceans to grind down its continually growing dental beak.

65 cm adult length, drawn to scale. round body.

Outgrows a typical home tank. Check this fish against the adult size above before buying a juvenile. The minimum shown is the least it is kept in for good, not a comfortable size.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 65 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 1500 L, at least 250 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 500 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 5 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 24 to 28 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 6.8 to 7.8 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 8 to 20, KH 4 to 10 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Medium Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Moderate Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size Single fish is fine Not a schooling species.
Temperament Semi-aggressive Territorial: strong.
Swims in All levels Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 15 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Experienced keepers only A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Mbu Puffer is an carnivore that swims in all levels of the tank. It is safe with plants. Give it some cover. It will eat fish small enough to swallow. It nips fins.

Tankmates

Works with

No close matches in the data. Check the pair tool.

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.