So a few years ago I got an Mbu from a LFS and thought he was only at the fish store for a month or two, well it turned out he had lived in a 20g at the store for over a year. I knew it was a down hill battle but I could provide a better life in my 240 then in the 20 it was in. My Mbu was about 4 inches and lived in a 60g grow out for 8 months or so and only grew on inch so I put him in the 240 and he still only grew a little and was a constant battle to feed. After he passed I considered a Fahaka. The LFS I go to refuses to sell Fahaka's yet will sell an Mbu if you have a 240 or larger and has a client that houses a 18" Mbu in a standard 240. I still plan on getting another Mbu and my 240 is just a grow out for his eventual home. I cannot forget the conversation I had with the LFS and diffrent things I have researched since loosing my Mbu.
1. I constantly see people recommend a 120 for a Fahaka for life yet instantly go to 1000 gallons for an Mbu. I really think the Fahaka tank size should be increased to a few hundred gallons. My thinking is that a wild Fahaka gets to be 24" where a wild Mbu will be 40". Why is it a fish half the size has the standard recommendation of 1/8 the tank. Also from what I have read and observed a Fahaka is a way more active fish. The activity level alone should demand much larger than a 120.
2. On tank size I always thought it peculiar that Shedd aquarium kept their Mbu in a tank no more than a 4' square box. They may have moved it since I was their a few years ago and the tank was large but had a lot of decorations and background the restricted the movement of the fish. Just curious if anyone else has noticed this.
3. I know it is true for Discus but thought why not it be true for other fish such as the Mbu and Fahaka. Discus need constant large water changes during their growing phase not only becasue they liek prestine water but because the fish secrete a chemical that helps them adapt to the size of water they are being kept in. I know it is always said that to get a fish to grow one should feed heavy and with heavy feedings comes large water changes. I am thinking their is more to it and has something to do with secretion of chemicals just like in Discus. My Mbu was severely stunted and I did religious, and excessive water changes on the 60 gallon which is the only time I got any real growth out of him. In the 240 I cut back my water change schedule to 25% a week and always had good parameters. I am thinking that since he was so stunted from living a year in a 20g at a LFS he probably need much larger water changes more frequently to maybe deplete the chemical from his body.
I am in no way trying to start a flame war, I just have had these questions in my head for a few years now and would like to hear from people with real world experience on these questions.
1. I constantly see people recommend a 120 for a Fahaka for life yet instantly go to 1000 gallons for an Mbu. I really think the Fahaka tank size should be increased to a few hundred gallons. My thinking is that a wild Fahaka gets to be 24" where a wild Mbu will be 40". Why is it a fish half the size has the standard recommendation of 1/8 the tank. Also from what I have read and observed a Fahaka is a way more active fish. The activity level alone should demand much larger than a 120.
2. On tank size I always thought it peculiar that Shedd aquarium kept their Mbu in a tank no more than a 4' square box. They may have moved it since I was their a few years ago and the tank was large but had a lot of decorations and background the restricted the movement of the fish. Just curious if anyone else has noticed this.
3. I know it is true for Discus but thought why not it be true for other fish such as the Mbu and Fahaka. Discus need constant large water changes during their growing phase not only becasue they liek prestine water but because the fish secrete a chemical that helps them adapt to the size of water they are being kept in. I know it is always said that to get a fish to grow one should feed heavy and with heavy feedings comes large water changes. I am thinking their is more to it and has something to do with secretion of chemicals just like in Discus. My Mbu was severely stunted and I did religious, and excessive water changes on the 60 gallon which is the only time I got any real growth out of him. In the 240 I cut back my water change schedule to 25% a week and always had good parameters. I am thinking that since he was so stunted from living a year in a 20g at a LFS he probably need much larger water changes more frequently to maybe deplete the chemical from his body.
I am in no way trying to start a flame war, I just have had these questions in my head for a few years now and would like to hear from people with real world experience on these questions.
