Tetraodon mbu (Mbu Pufferfish)

Remarks:  Tetraodon mbu, also known as mbu pufferfish or giant pufferfish, are the largest freshwater species of pufferfish in the world. While the average size of an adult captive puffer is already a colossal 22-24 inches in length, T. mbu are capable of growing up to 30 inches! They have a beautiful dark brown or black maze-like pattern on a yellow or tan body. Combined with their orange or red eyes, they can be a very beautiful species of pufferfish. Not only are they a nice-looking fish, T. mbu are very active and intelligent with intricate personalities. Many quickly learn to recognize their owner from across the room and hurry over to beg for food and attention upon seeing them. Like any puffer, they love and require being fed hard shelled crustaceans and mollusks such as shrimp, crayfish, clams, and snails. Very rarely, a puffer may take to dried/prepared foods, but even if they do, they will still need these fresh foods to keep their ever-growing beaks ground down to a manageable length.

  Many fall in love with T. mbu after learning about them but unfortunately, they are not a fish suited for beginners or those without large aquariums. Their high levels of activity, territorial disposition, high amount of waste production, and massive adult size means that these puffers need giant tanks to be able to thrive. If large, frequent water changes are provided along with heavy filtration, it is possible to keep an mbu puffer in a tank of around 350 gallons. However, it is far better to choose an aquarium of at least 500 gallons or more with a large footprint to allow for plenty of swimming space. Being native to the Congo River and the east coast of Lake Tanganyika, they prefer their parameters to be more alkaline and hard with plenty of dissolved oxygen. Any kind of sharp or pointed décor should be avoided in the tank as the T. mbu can harm itself if it gets spooked and darts. Instead, opt for more soft and rounded options such as live plants and soft sand for the puffer to bury in. Considering their digging habits, plants that grow on structures rather than in the substrate such as Anubias are a good choice to add not only enrichment and hiding spaces, but also to help increase water quality.

  Despite their cute demeanor and seemingly friendly behavior toward their owners, T. mbu are highly predatory with a beak capable of biting chunks out of other fish. They will be especially aggressive toward other pufferfish as they see them as competition. As they are the natural prey of T. mbu, any kind of crustacean or mollusk is almost certainly going to be hunted down if housed with them. Sometimes small, fast swimming fish such as small danios and barbs can be kept with T. mbu, but only if given plenty of space and hiding spots to escape from the puffer. At times, there can be puffers that have a more mild disposition and don’t intentionally attack tankmates, but this does not mean that these other fish will be totally safe. Because T. mbu have their eyes become further apart as they grow, they get larger blind spots. This combined with their voracious feeding behaviors can result in a tankmate getting bitten by accident during feeding time. With how sharp and powerful the beaks of T. mbu are, even just one accidental bite can spell disaster. For these reasons, these giant pufferfish are best kept and enjoyed alone. They certainly make all their needs worth it, however, as they earned the nickname of “water puppy” for a reason with their outgoing personalities that melt the hearts of just about any fish keeper.