Pea puffer
Carinotetraodon travancoricus · Tetraodontidae
Also known as Dwarf puffer, Indian dwarf puffer
Advanced
A 2.5 cm freshwater puffer with personality; needs live snails and its own tank.
In short: A pea puffer needs at least 40 L (11 US gal), water at 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) and pH 6.8–8. It is aggressive, usually kept singly, and rated advanced to keep.
Updated
- Minimum tank
- 40 L (11 US gal)
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH
- 6.8–8
- Adult size
- 2.5 cm (1 in)
- Group size
- 1+
Care requirements
- Minimum tank volume
- 40 L (11 US gal)
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH
- 6.8–8
- Hardness
- 5–20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Carnivore — live/frozen snails, bloodworm, blackworm; ignores dry food.
- Care level
- Advanced
Origin & habitat
- Native region
- Kerala and Karnataka, India
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Biotope
- Densely vegetated backwaters
- Natural conditions
- Warm, medium-hard, slow, plant-filled water.
Behaviour & stocking
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Minimum group
- 1 fish
- Swims
- All levels
- Good tank mates
- Best kept aloneOtocinclus at a stretch
- Avoid
- ShrimpSnails you valueLong-finned fishAny fin-nippable tank mate
Breeding & difficulty
- Breeding difficulty
- Advanced
- Sexing
- Males show a dark belly stripe and wrinkle lines behind the eye.
- Notes
- Spawns in moss; fry are minute and need live food.
- Common ailments
- Internal parasites in wild stockStarvation on dry foodOvergrown teeth
Will it fit your tank?
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