Mappa Puffers
- Thread starter myerst2
- Start date
reefergeorge
New member
Beautiful puffer!
I have a porcupine not a mappa, but I feed mine krill, clams, mussels, silver sides, crab legs, and scallops. I try to sneak some nori in there to. Making sure that there is hard shelled food so he can keep his teeth trimmed will make life much easier down the road. I also soak food every once in a while in selcon or selco.
I have a porcupine not a mappa, but I feed mine krill, clams, mussels, silver sides, crab legs, and scallops. I try to sneak some nori in there to. Making sure that there is hard shelled food so he can keep his teeth trimmed will make life much easier down the road. I also soak food every once in a while in selcon or selco.
FishyMel
New member
I had a mappa that got about 14 inches and then traded it out for my current orange belly dogface. It ate silversides, mysis, and krill. Typical puffer food. Just be aware in the wild they get 3 feet, it is a fact fish stores really need to be warning people about. Mappas and Stellatuses really huge really fasst. Mine hit 14 inches in 2 years from a 4 inch start.
Yellow bellies are common on juvies but get white with age. Also there beauty declines with age.
Yellow bellies are common on juvies but get white with age. Also there beauty declines with age.
crazedpuffer
New member
Beautiful puffer!
Shame they get so big.
Shame they get so big.
Puffer Queen
New member
Are those real or fake plants in the pic?
myerst2
Active member
They are real. I have 5 different macros in the tank. Most of them I collect from local waters on Long Island. The angel and Foxface love them. To my suprise the mappa has been chewing on them as well. I've been taking care of fish for a long time and never knew these fish ate algae and sponges. Always learning something. A couple of new pics. Regards, Tim
The first two would be good avatars. Help yourself anyone who wants to use it.
The first two would be good avatars. Help yourself anyone who wants to use it.
myerst2
Active member
Yes for now. I have a 40 breeder that I keep with macros and for keeping live food to gut load ghost shrimp, and damsels. Luckily I'm off in the winter and spend most of my time at home and constantly observe the tank. The mappa took a look at the rhino and the Rhino perked up and scared him off, just like all the other fish that checked him out initially. I know it goes against all recom. to keep Rhinos with other fish but all the fish seem to know to stay away. . I have to think in nature that they come across fish that harass them once their cover has been blown, so they have to defend themselves in one way or another, ie venom. I think the camo is more for predation than for defense. Otherwise the Rhino would sit in all the macros I have set up in the tank all day, rather he sits out in the open, almost always away from the macros and rock. I could be wrong and one small mistake with the mappa could be a disaster, but he has back up home in case. The Mappa was 200.00
Do you have any expierence with Polleni Groupers? I have a line on a cheap one but don't know much about them. I don't want to add anything else fo atleast a month but he's a friend and is willing to hold it. Are they very reclusive like a miniatus? I love the colors of miniatus groupers. I feel like no one ever keeps them and for that matter I never see them for sale anymore. Do they lose their colors as they grow? Regards, Tim
Do you have any expierence with Polleni Groupers? I have a line on a cheap one but don't know much about them. I don't want to add anything else fo atleast a month but he's a friend and is willing to hold it. Are they very reclusive like a miniatus? I love the colors of miniatus groupers. I feel like no one ever keeps them and for that matter I never see them for sale anymore. Do they lose their colors as they grow? Regards, Tim
FishyMel
New member
Mappas are very nice looking and friendly just be aware of its full size and be ready to upgrade or let it go in 2 years or so.
I wasn't planning to bash you about the rhino and puffer. I personally don't listen to reccommendations either. It is all about trial and error. You can usually see if the situation will work in 5 minutes and then go from there. I like hearing about unusual pairings.
I almost bought a polleni once but didn't because of how reclusive they were. The one I was looking at only was out if you were 10 feet away from the tank and he was acclimated in that tank for a good 6 monthes as a show specimen. Pollenis also have problems with bouyancy considering they are a deeper water fish so many times in aquaria their swim bladder will get messed up. With that in mind I'd go for the hardier, a little less reclusive miniatus grouper. They also are prettier imo too, but not as "rare and expensive"
I wasn't planning to bash you about the rhino and puffer. I personally don't listen to reccommendations either. It is all about trial and error. You can usually see if the situation will work in 5 minutes and then go from there. I like hearing about unusual pairings.
I almost bought a polleni once but didn't because of how reclusive they were. The one I was looking at only was out if you were 10 feet away from the tank and he was acclimated in that tank for a good 6 monthes as a show specimen. Pollenis also have problems with bouyancy considering they are a deeper water fish so many times in aquaria their swim bladder will get messed up. With that in mind I'd go for the hardier, a little less reclusive miniatus grouper. They also are prettier imo too, but not as "rare and expensive"
myerst2
Active member
I wasn't accusing you of bashing me, but as you said many people use pairings as absolutes. I must admit I fell into the not doing full research before buying the Mappa. I figured it would get Melegras size and not grow that fast. I don't know how many times I've told people to research their purchases before buying them. I have a couple homes for the mappa in the future if all goes well. This fishes personality is amazing as you have stated in previous threads. Thanks for the info. This Polleni is really cheap that I'm looking at and it's 3.5" and has been in holding for over a month and spends most of its time right in front of the tank. I think this would probally change in my tank with all the hiding spots. That would be fine with me as long as he comes out once and a while. It's nice to see fish once and awhile as long as its never. Regards, Tim
JustinReef
New member
Wow...Beautiful Mappa!!!
I had a mappa for about a year but it outgrew my tank
I got him pretty big though at about 10" and within a year he was close to 18"-20" and just way to thick and big for a 180G. Good to hear that you have other tanks for him though! I wish I had been able to keep mine but he just looked too cramped...
I had a mappa for about a year but it outgrew my tank
I got him pretty big though at about 10" and within a year he was close to 18"-20" and just way to thick and big for a 180G. Good to hear that you have other tanks for him though! I wish I had been able to keep mine but he just looked too cramped...
ccampbell57
Premium Member
the mappa is a great puffer! I wish i had a 300+ to house a full sized one.
ccampbell57
Premium Member
You and me both Myerst2!
myerst2
Active member
Hey guys need help fast. I have powerheads lodged behind my liverock and noticed the mappa was blown up!!! He got his eye sucked into the intake!!!!!! ****ed and worried. You can see the red ring around his eye and his eye looks a bit cloudy and some hemmorage around it, but otherwise is swimming around the tank as if nothing happened, except for the evil look he's giving me. There seemed to be a bit of excretion coming from his body, should I do a carbon change? What should I do for the Mappa, besides turn those damn powerheads off? Please give me any suggestions!!! Don't want to lose this guy or have him suffer any more that he has. Thanks. Regards, Tim
