How Fast Do Porcupine Puffers Grow? The 230 Detailed Answer

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The puffer is a survivor that thrives in almost all tropical waters.

From freshwater puffers to saltwater takifugu, these fish use a variety of adaptations to protect themselves from predators and humans alike. In addition to the famous “puffing” technique, puffer fish can also attack with their beak-like teeth or poison an enemy with their secret toxins.

Although well equipped to survive in the natural world, these fish still suffer from the exotic animal industry. Saltwater puffers are often hunted as a delicacy and freshwater puffers are sold as pets. Some species of puffer fish are near threatened as a result of this activity; Overall, however, the species is considered to be of little concern.

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An Incredible Fish: 4 Puffer Fish Facts

Fighting Instincts: These are aggressive fish that are ready to attack anyone they perceive as a threat. Puffer fish usually live alone and do not usually share their territory with other fish.

These are aggressive fish that are ready to attack anyone they perceive as a threat. Puffer fish usually live alone and do not usually share their territory with other fish. Venom Spikes: One of the adaptations that help the pufferfish survive is its ability to produce a venom known as tetraodotoxin. This toxin is excreted through their bodies, making puffer fish dangerous to touch and even more dangerous to eat.

: One of the adaptations that help the pufferfish survive is its ability to produce a toxin known as tetraodotoxin. This toxin is excreted through their bodies, making puffer fish dangerous to touch and even more dangerous to eat. Intimidating Posture: These fish may look adorable when inflated, but the truth is that this trait is an intimidating survival mechanism. Few predators will stick around to feed on a fish that has suddenly doubled in visual size.

: These fish may look adorable when bloated, but the truth is that this trait is an intimidating survival mechanism. Few predators will stick around to feed on a fish that has suddenly doubled in visual size. Romantic Disposition: Despite their violent attitude toward humans and other predators, puffers are actually very attached to their partners. The male usually helps the female lay her eggs by guiding her through the water and rubbing her side as she gives birth.

Click here for more interesting facts about puffer fish.

Puffer Fish Classification and Scientific Name

The scientific name of the puffer fish family is Tetraodontidae. This name means “four-toothed” and represents the four teeth that normally protrude from the fish’s mouth. These teeth are actually fused to the fish’s jaw, creating the resilience needed to break through tough shells.

Puffer species: A prolific fish

There are at least 200 species of puffer fish, classified into 29 genera. Being such a hardy and resilient fish, they can easily adapt to any environment.

Types of puffer fish

Some of the most notable types of puffer fish are:

Dwarf Puffers: Dwarf puffers, or Carinotetraodon travancoricus, are tiny freshwater puffers native to the rivers of southwest India. These fish are popular in aquariums, which puts them at risk of severe overfishing. Dwarf puffers may also be known as lace puffers or dwarf puffers.

Dwarf puffers, or Carinotetraodon travancoricus, are tiny freshwater puffers native to the rivers of southwest India. These fish are popular in aquariums, which puts them at risk of severe overfishing. Dwarf puffers may also be known as lace puffers or dwarf puffers. Nile Puffers: Nile puffers, or Tetraodon lineatus, are one of the most popular species of freshwater puffers to keep as pets. As the name suggests, the beautiful yellow-striped fish are found in the Nile and throughout Africa.

: Nile puffers or Tetraodon lineatus are one of the most popular species of freshwater puffers to keep as pets. As the name suggests, the beautiful yellow-striped fish are found in the Nile and throughout Africa. Takifugu: The genus of puffer fish native to the Northwest Pacific is collectively referred to as Takifugu; These are the fish originally eaten as “fugu”. There are 25 different species of Takifugu, but they are all poisonous.

Appearance of the puffer: Varied array

These fish come in a variety of sizes, colors, and customizations. Some puffer fish are tiny, others weigh up to 30 pounds. Some of these fish have delicate spines while others are covered in hard spines. However, they all share the same core feature: an air sac that can inflate if the fish feels threatened.

Another feature that almost all of these fish share in common is the presence of a sharp beak, a set of teeth, or both. Puffer fish use their beaks and teeth to break apart shellfish; They also use them to attack other fish and various types of predators. Even babies are capable of seriously injuring anything that floats by.

Aside from these features, they actually have quite different shapes and faces. Takifugu looks completely different from Nile puffers, and dwarf puffers are much smaller than any other member of their species.

Distribution of puffer fish and the population and habitat of the fish

These fish are found in all warm regions of the world. Whether they prefer saltwater or freshwater, most species enjoy living in secluded areas with plenty of cover. This typically means coral reefs, thatched swamps, and anywhere else where water and vegetation coincide.

Since they are not fished for food, there are no official population censuses. Although the majority of puffers are classified as Least Concern, almost all Takifugu species are considered Near Threatened. The most vulnerable species are those used either as exotic food or as exotic pets.

Puffer Fish Predators & Prey

These fish are predatory fish and have been known to fight other fish in their territories quite aggressively. Puffer fish attack with their sharp hooked beaks, typically used to shell mussels, crabs, and other shellfish.

Because they’re covered in venomous spines, they have no real natural predators other than sharks, which usually don’t mind the presence of the venom.

Reproduction and lifespan of puffer fish

The mating cycle suits the name of this fish well. After two puffer fish court each other, the male urges the female to a safe spot on the bank. There she lays her eggs, which are light enough to float on the surface of the water. The pair will likely remain in the area until the eggs hatch.

Puffer eggs hatch within a week of being laid. The baby puffers are usually too small to see, but they will grow rapidly over the following months. An adult puffer fish can weigh up to 30 pounds.

In the wild, most puffer fish live about 10 years. Baby puffers do not stay with their parents and are usually eager to join the local ecosystem.

Puffer fish fishing and cooking

Although puffer fish are poisonous and not considered food, they are still fished and poached for the exotic industry. In particular, misconceptions about Asian cuisine have led to the popularity of a delicacy known as “fugu,” which is simply a slice of hopefully non-toxic puffer fish meat.

Otherwise puffer fish are often in demand as aquarium pets. It’s not uncommon for wild puffer fish to be pulled from their environment and sold as pets around the world. Freshwater puffers are particularly susceptible to this as they can survive in a normal aquarium environment.

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Puffer fish are some of the most easily identified fish for divers. These include porcupinefish, pufferfish, and all other fish in the Tetraodontidae and Diodontidae families that enlarge their bodies by bloating them as a defense mechanism. Unfortunately, while bloating can successfully discourage predators, it can also be quite damaging to the puffer, sometimes leading to death. Here we explain why it’s time for divers and divemasters to leave puffers alone. Observe or photograph them only from a respectful distance – and under no circumstances should you artificially inflate one.

What makes puffer fish expand?

Puffer fish can instinctively inflate their bodies if they feel threatened as soon as they hatch. This helps them appear more intimidating to potential predators. When fully grown, the puffer fish can exploit this defense mechanism to the full, allowing the fish to bloat up to three times its original size. This can take as little as 15 seconds.

How does it puff up?

Scientists didn’t know how a puffer fish expands until researchers at James Cook University proved the mechanism a few years ago. Marine biologists at James Cook studied the behavior and found that the pufferfish forces its body to inflate by releasing its jaws to widen its mouth. When opening its jaws, the fish swallows large amounts of water and quickly expands its entire body. This expansion makes the Puffer Fish look a lot more intimidating than usual, with the aim of deterring predators.

Why is puffing bad for a puffer fish?

As you can imagine, swallowing a lot of water stretches both the fish’s stomach and skin. Swimming becomes very difficult for puffer fish when they become inflated to three times their normal size. Already not the most streamlined swimmers – which is why they have this defensive tactic in the first place – the bloated fish has lost even more mobility. A bloated puffer fish will basically float until it returns to its normal size.

How does a puffer fish return to its normal state?

The puffer fish expels the water from its stomach in the same way, but much more slowly. Studies have shown that it can take an average of 5.6 hours for fish to return to typical metabolic levels. During this period, the fish is vulnerable due to its size and immobility. The puffer is also usually exhausted from the exertion of bloating. Because of these factors, divers and guides should view and appreciate this odd-shaped fish from afar, and tell other divers to do the same. As with all other sea creatures, the same applies to puffer fish: hands off.

By guest author Liz Maynor

Daniel & Megan H Kalamazoo , MI First things first, this is our FAVORITE fish. They have so much personality and are such a joy to watch. We currently have two in a 75 gallon reef tank. One is an adult and the other is a juvenile. They do not disturb any of the coral, but will occasionally eat some snails and hermit crabs if not fed in time. They are very hardy and happy. The little one even survived being stuck to the powerhead overnight. He got sick and took about three weeks to recover, but he’s back to normal now and enjoys staring at us as much as we enjoy staring at him. The adult knows us and lets us pet him and we both hand feed. I’ll say it again, we LOVE our Porcupine Puffers and they are so much fun to have.

Pamela V Lago Vista , TX My puffer is intelligent, peaceful and has personality along with a hearty appetite. It recognizes the hand that feeds it. It swims to the glass when it sees me during the day and lets me know when it’s time to feed by hovering in a spot near the front of the tank and looking straight at me. This is a great fish for a large tank with non-aggressive tankmates.

Ryan T New York , NY This fish got me into this hobby. When I first saw his sparkling blue eyes, I knew I had to have one. They are very intelligent and have quite a personality. Mine always gets up and “greets” me when I come home and “follows” me around the room. This puffer fish is like a dog – it recognizes you and even lets you pet it. I highly recommend this buffer.

Vincent P Revere, MA The Puffer is an absolute must have for any hobbyist or even a beginner with a tank over 90 gallons. I’ve had my Biggie puffer for over 3 years and he’s great, I recommend frozen shrimp, fresh shrimp and mine also loves Tetra’s Jumbo Min food sticks, especially when frozen food isn’t available to feed. My puffer knows me by looks and they make excellent fish for children because they will get to know the children as they feed the fish and grow up with them.

Pete M. Howell, NJ This is the most personable fish I have ever seen. It will look at you while you look at him. He’ll eat out of your hand if you want. my favorite fish They are peaceful, but can compete with any fish.

Crystal P Eden Valley, MN My puffer is my favorite fish and he is very friendly and aware of his surroundings. If you do get one, watch your water temperature VERY closely as this puffer can get a bad case of ICH if stressed. THEY ARE WONDERFUL FISH and you will never regret having one.

Hunter B Charlevoix, MI My porcupine puffer is one of my favorite fish. He is extremely intelligent and will watch me the same way I watch him. He will recognize the person feeding him very quickly. This fish is extremely hardy once acclimated to its home. Mine eats a ton and it gets along with my Emperor Angel, Longnose Hawkfish, Clownfish, Clown Trigger, Blue Tang, Maiden, Lionfish and, believe it or not, my Goby. If you are looking for a decent fish look no further.

Justin W. Long Island, NY The Porcupine puffer is the best puffer you can have. Mine, “Puff Daddy”, is extremely lively and has a great personality. He gets along well with my Lionfish and Damsels. Snails and hermits flee, but he is very friendly. I would recommend this buffer to everyone.

Melissa M Peoria, AZ Turbo as he is affectionately known, is our family’s favorite fish. He chats to anyone who walks by the tank, but prefers to smile at familiar family members. He swims back and forth with his mouth open and his eyes wide open. What a wonderful, social fish! He is definitely our social butterfly. He’s also quite a “sow” in the tank. He will eat food from the mouths of others. I recommend this fish for any FOWLR aquarium.

Matthew A. Jackson, MS Cute and eats right out of my hand, splashes water when he’s hungry, and follows me around the room. Five stars and I recommend this fish to everyone!!!!!

C R Cincinnati , OH I LOVE that fish! He has so much personality. I didn’t think a Pisces could actually have the personality traits of a Dog, but this one does. When I come into the room he rushes to the front of the tank and follows me back and forth waiting for me to feed him. I bought this Yellow Porcupine Puffer from Divers Den in early September – it arrived healthy and happy with a great appetite. DF&S is a great place to get your marine life, I will definitely be buying again.

Matthew S Rochester , MN Got mine last week. Absolutely stunning and goes with anything and everything that was previously in the tank. Loves eating frozen krill and frozen diced foods. Just a pleasure to watch.

Max P Chicago, IL Mine is one of my favorite fish. He has so much personality and is even pompous at one point. His name is Spike and he even likes to be petted. I would recommend it to anyone thinking of getting one.

Kirk Y New Milford, NJ I’ve owned all of the kings of marine fish, black tip sharks, lemon tip sharks, leopards, stingrays, look downs, etc. but none of them have the personality of this fish. He almost looks like he’s looking for me to see him and always looks happy. By far the happiest and most personal fish I’ve ever had and he’s now eating out of my kid’s hands.

XtrmCHoPZ Registered Member

Joined Date: Oct 2000 Location: Fresno, CA Contributions: 787

Dalmatians are the same species as the dogface. they are both Arothron nigropunctatus.

It is possible to keep several puffers, but you must watch them CAREFULLY… They are a species of fish that can seriously injure others. If you see them starting to get aggressive, you need to intervene. I’ve kept many species together with mixed success. You may not be able to keep two porcs together. And if you try this in a 110g tank you will be in trouble!

I would recommend at least a 200g tank. Arothron generally get along well, but there are exceptions. I’ve had Stars and Stripes, Dog Face, Black Dog Face, Card, Star, Golden, Reticulated, Panda, etc. Recently, my big Golden killed my card and started attacking my panda. I had to separate them. They tend to be territorial with other puffers that look similar. So if you ask me, your best bet is to get two very different looking puffs… maybe a dogface, golden and porc. Just watch them! Once you start farming, you might have problems. A puffer fish can injure another very easily.

Dear Sir/Madam, “I received my order on January 27, 2008 and would like to thank you for the excellent customer service, packaging and shipping. My little Scopas Tang is just such a beautiful, active and healthy fish. We enjoy it so much Snails are healthy too and between the snails and the seaweed our seaweed was gone in two days! I had to buy some select seaweed and fresh caleurpa to feed them. Thanks.” – Kathleen

Porcupine puffer fish are also commonly known as puffer fish, puffer fish, or balloon fish. They can inflate their bodies with water to make themselves larger to deter predators and this helps them become buoyant so they can swim more efficiently. They also use their spines to deter predators and can even inject a very potent venom into would-be attackers.

Since porcupine bullets are nocturnal creatures, they spend most of the daylight hours resting in crevices or burrows made by other animals. Although they are generally not choosy about where they settle. They like to be in water with little movement and an abundance of sponges, seaweed or coral; All of this helps provide them with food and shelter from predators.

They are carnivores that feed on small crustaceans such as shrimp, crabs, and mollusks, among others, using the suction action of their mouths to capture prey.

Porcupine puffer fish have a life expectancy of about ten years if kept in a good aquarium. They generally grow between six and eight inches in length, although they have been known to grow up to twelve inches or more, depending on the species.

provenance and descriptions

The porcupine puffer is originally from the Indian Ocean but has been introduced to many areas around the world. It can be found in shallow waters near reefs or on sandy bottoms at depths of up to 20 meters. Their body is roughly circular and cigar-shaped, with tough skin. They have sharp spines on their backs, but the spines are not poisonous.

The body coloration of the porcupine puffer fish is generally brown or greenish-brown with yellow markings and white bands around the eyes. The inside of their mouth is black for camouflage when hunting prey in dark seabeds. They have a large head and an elongated, chunky shape.

They can grow up to 30 cm long with spikes used for self-defense against predators or other porcupine bullets. These spikes are sharp enough to break human skin if touched directly. They have small eyes that protrude from the head and can be seen from above.

On their back are two roughly equal sized dorsal fins that help them hide among reef corals when they feel threatened or stressed. When frightened, porcupine puffer fish suck large amounts of water into their abdomens until they become almost spherical in shape.

species profile

Porcupine puffers are large, spiny fish that resemble a typical puffer fish. Unlike other species in the Diodontidae family, they have no scales and little to no spines on their skin. They also do not retain water in their bodies or puff up when threatened. Instead, porcupine bullets store toxins in their skin and can bloat when excited.

They are aggressive fish that like to fight with each other, although they live in small colonies made up of only a few individuals. These puffer fish feed on crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp, which they crush with their powerful beak-like teeth.

Scientific name

The scientific name of the porcupine puffer fish is Diodon holocanthus.

color and appearance

Their skin is dark brown or black with white patches on their backs. Their underside has a pink tint and the tips of their fins are colored pale yellow. The eyes have golden irises while its mouth is large and has strong beak-like teeth used for crushing crustaceans.

Porcupine puffers grow to a maximum length of about 50 centimeters and can weigh up to four kilograms.

Their skin lacks scales and spines, which is an adaptation that allows them to inflate with water or air when threatened. They also have the ability to store toxins in their smooth muscle tissue as well as in the mucus cells that line their inner skin.

When agitated or threatened, the fish can puff up to intimidate predators, but when attacked it releases a cloud of poison that can cause paralysis and death if consumed by other animals.

Although porcupine puffers are a popular aquarium species, they have been responsible for human deaths. In addition to releasing their toxic mucus when aroused, it’s also possible for the fish to release their toxins when handled roughly or exposed to sudden changes in temperature. For this reason, the porcupine puffer fish should only be handled by experts.

range and habitat

Porcupine puffers are found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. They tend to inhabit coral reefs at depths of less than a hundred feet, but have been known to dive to as much as a hundred and fifty feet below sea level in some parts of their range.

These fish live singly or in small groups consisting of a few individuals.

Porcupine puffers are carnivores, feeding on crustaceans such as crabs, shrimp, and molluscs, which they crush with their powerful beak-like teeth. They can also eat small marine animals such as worms (Phylum Annelida), bristleworms (Phylum Chaetognatha) and sometimes small fish.

Porcupine puffers are found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. They tend to inhabit coral reefs at depths of less than a hundred feet, but have been known to dive to as much as a hundred and fifty feet below sea level in some parts of their range. These fish live singly or in small groups consisting of a few individuals.

Porcupine puffer size

Porcupine puffers grow to a maximum length of about 50 centimeters and can weigh up to four kilograms.

Porcupine buffer tank size

Porcupine puffers should be kept in a tank with at least 24 gallons of water for one individual and 43 to 55 gallons if you plan on keeping two.

life cycle

An adult female will lay 20,000 to 30,000 eggs at a time. These are fertilized by the male before being scattered in different directions across the reef. Once released into the water, they hatch within 24 hours and develop rapidly, with some being fully grown after just three months of life.

The gestation period for this species has been reported to last between 21 and 25 days, with the eggs taking around two days to a week before hatching.

Porcupine pufferfish are preyed upon by many large predators in their natural environment, including sharks and other larger reef fish. The spines of this species can be harmful if they come in contact with humans or animals when removing them from the water. This also applies to other large puffer species.

Are they aggressive or peaceful?

Porcupine puffers are generally considered peaceful, although there have been reports of them becoming aggressive when threatened. They are also thought not to bother humans unless they feel their territory has been invaded or if they think some food might be acquired by doing so.

Caring for Porcupine Balls

Caring for porcupine puffer fish isn’t difficult, but there are a few important things to consider. Part of their care is to minimize the likelihood of aggression within the tank. This is best achieved by providing plenty of hiding spots on both the substrate and rock structure that can be fashioned into caves or labyrinths for your fish to hide in when needed.

What do puffer fish eat?

The porcupine pufferfish primarily eats benthic invertebrates in its natural environment, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t eat other foods. They are also known to be opportunistic feeders in the aquarium and will take almost anything that is offered including flakes, pellets, frozen concoctions of marine origin or even live food if required.

Porcupine Tankmates

Porcupine Puffers are not overly aggressive, but they can get snappy with other tankmates when it comes to food. This makes them a poor choice for reef aquariums as multiple invertebrates may end up on the menu.

water conditions

Porcupine puffers are not difficult to keep as long as the water chemistry and temperature are within their preferred range. For most specimens, a salinity of around 35 ppt is fine for typical tropical aquarium temperatures. They need to be kept in good quality water that is well filtered but not overcrowded.

The water temperature should be kept between 22°C and 25°C, this can be maintained by using an aquarium heater.

The porcupine puffer fish is also known to be very sensitive when it comes to dissolved oxygen levels in the water. So make sure there are several high flow areas in his tank and good surface agitation will help keep the dissolved oxygen at a healthy level for her.

Another thing to consider is that porcupine puffers are not very tolerant of sudden changes in their environment, so it’s important to slowly acclimate them when moving them from one tank to another.

breed

Porcupine bullets are known to be difficult to breed, but it has been done on a few occasions. In the wild, they usually lay their eggs in the nests of sea urchins and starfish that have not yet opened to spawn. So by providing them with a similar environment, you can increase your chances of success.

The female lays between 50 and 100 bright orange eggs, which the male should fertilize as soon as they are laid, and then guards them until they hatch about a week later at a temperature of around 24°C or 75°F. The young fish can be fed with freshly hatched Artemia directly after hatching.

life span

Porcupine puffer fish can live up to 20 years in the wild. In captivity, with good care, their lifespans are typically around 12 years or more.

They have a shorter lifespan in the wild, as they are often caught as bycatch in commercial fishing and also frequently die from injuries sustained after predator attacks.

parasites and diseases

Porcupine puffer fish are not usually susceptible to many diseases as their slime coat protects them from bacteria and viruses.

However, there have been cases where porcupine pufferfish developed a tumor-causing virus after being exposed to an environment that didn’t suit their needs for several months or years. This has also occurred in aquariums where the porcupine puffer has been stressed by lack of company.

They are also susceptible to parasites such as leeches and flatworms that attach themselves to their skin or internal organs. Flukes tend to be more common in wild specimens, as they can easily burrow through protective scales.

They can be treated with the right medication for parasites and diseases, but it is recommended that they be quarantined from other aquarium inhabitants to prevent infection of their symbiotic algae or the spread of contagious diseases.

predators

Porcupine puffers have a variety of predators in the wild, including sharks and other large marine life.

In captivity, they are usually safe from predators as they do not leave their aquariums. However, it is possible for them to be injured if another tank occupant tries to eat them or if one fish becomes aggressive towards another.

In the wild, porcupine puffers use their ability to inflate for self-defense and protection from predators. However, in captivity they cannot do this as it is not necessary and can even harm them by increasing stress levels or causing other health problems.

Does it make good pets?

no Porcupine puffers do not make good pets as they require a lot of care and attention.

In the wild, they are solitary animals, spending most of their time hiding in burrows or crevices to avoid predators. In captivity, this instinctive behavior causes them to become stressed from being around other fish.

Conclusion

Porcupine puffers are not pets that many people should consider keeping because of the time, effort, and money involved in caring for them.

They require a lot of space as they can grow up to 30cm, which is too big for most home aquariums. They also need salt water with specific temperature requirements and other necessities such as caves or crevices for hiding and a separate aquarium to maintain their symbiotic algae.

For some reason people like to measure how much they like an animal by how much they want to be petted. That’s probably not the best measure of relationship ability, but this little fish would pass with flying colors.

Last year a group of divers discovered a very strange little puffer fish off the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The adventurous fish swims in and out of divers and accepts a few gentle touches.

The smallest puffer in the world is the Malabar puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus), also known by several other names as the pygmy or dwarf puffer, which is a freshwater species native to rivers in the Western Ghats of south-west India. It measures no more than 3.5 cm (1.4 in) in total length, often smaller (especially females), typically only 2.5 cm (1 in). Due to its extremely small size, it is officially known as the pea puffer, one of several species of this species placed in the genus Carinotetraodon. Some of them are only slightly larger than this species. It was officially described by science in 1941.

Puffer fish owe their name to their characteristic defensive behavior. In doing so, a puffer fish fills its very elastic stomach with water until it has grown much larger and almost spherical like a sphere. In addition, its outer body surface is covered with small sharp spines that protrude protectively when its body is so inflated, making it almost impossible for a potential predator to swallow a puffer that has adopted this defensive state.

The tetrodotoxin stored in the puffer’s skin and organs also makes it the world’s most venomous fish, although in some countries — like Japan, where it’s known as fugu — it’s still considered a delicacy. However, the dish must be prepared by a qualified cook who knows how to properly remove the limited edible parts of the fish.

Dcash88 Registered Member

Joined Date: Jan 2013 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 62

Can a puffer fish eat itself to death? Hi

I have had an 8 inch yellow belly and face buffalo for about a year and he died yesterday. The only thing that came to my mind in the days prior was an overfeeding incident. I got a pearl calf butterfly that was picky once I put it in the dt so I wanted to try a half shell clam. My puffer loves these as do my other fish so my plan was to throw 3 in the tank , 1 to the right of the puffer fish, one in the middle next to the rest of my fish and one on the left for the new butterfly, that way everyone would be distracted. Well I let them in and my puffer fish swam the length of the tank and snapped all 3 in about 10 seconds. Then later that night I notice that he also ate a giant turbo snail.

The next day he sat in the corner, sulking. The next day it was sitting in the corner, but now it was lying in the sand and getting darker. At the end of the day he was basically black and just laying there. In the morning he was dead.

All other fish are fine. Parameters: 79 degrees, 8.3 ph, 7 dkh, 1.024 sg, 0 ppm nitrates, 34 ppb phosphates.

I’m also dosing carbon and slowly transitioning from half vodka, half vinegar to straight vinegar. However, the ratio had not changed within a week prior.

As you can imagine, I’m trying to figure out what happened? Can a puffer fish eat itself to death and would this schedule fit? Any other thoughts on what might have happened?

Many Thanks

Daniel

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240 gallons of poultry

55 gallon reef

10 gallon baby angler

Dwarf or pea puffer fish have become increasingly popular in recent years. They are probably the most commonly kept puffer fish in freshwater fish farming today. Whether you have a single puffer in a 10-gallon tank or a large school in a larger tank, when one of your dwarf puffers stops eating you may be thinking….

Eating Daphnia Please enable JavaScript Eating Daphnia

How long can dwarf puffer fish go without food? Dwarf puffer fish can go 5-7 days without food. A healthy dwarf puffer can last even longer. If your dwarf puffer has stopped eating, try to entice it to eat again by offering live mosquito larvae, mosquito larvae, or small snails.

Why has my dwarf puffer stopped eating?

It can be disconcerting when you first discover that your dwarf puffer has stopped eating. Before you panic, try to figure out why your dwarf puffer stopped eating in the first place. Spend some time watching your dwarf puffer fish. See how your puffer interacts with the other fish and check some basic parameters in your aquarium.

Check the aquarium temperature. It’s a simple check, but heaters regularly fail. If your puffer is too cold, it may not want to eat.

Is the dwarf puffer new to you?

When your dwarf puffer is new to your aquarium, is it suffering from internal parasites? Dwarf puffer fish, especially wild-caught specimens, often have internal parasites such as tapeworms. These worms consume all the nutrients from your puffer fish’s food and then grow in the fish’s intestines until your dwarf puffer fish doesn’t feel like eating anymore.

If you suspect your dwarf puffer fish has internal worms, you should consider removing it from the aquarium and placing it in a quarantine tank. In the quarantine tank, dwarf puffer fish can be treated against internal parasites with a fish dewormer such as Fritz ParaCleanse.

ParaCleanse treats a wide range of internal parasites and some external ones as well. Treating internal parasites is a process that can take 4 weeks or more, so be patient and don’t try to rush the process.

Does your dwarf puffer have an obvious illness, infection, or external parasite?

By spending some time observing your dwarf puffer, you may be able to spot signs of illness or infection. If dwarf puffers are unwell they may be discouraged from feeding, and if a disease or infection becomes severe enough, a dwarf puffer may starve before the disease kills it.

If you think your dwarf puffer has a disease or external parasite affecting its appetite, make note of as many symptoms as possible (e.g. white spots or fungus around the mouth) and call your local fishmonger to arrange to speak to him with a staff member there.

Discuss your fish’s symptoms and ask them to recommend appropriate treatment. If necessary, move your dwarf puffer to a separate quarantine tank before beginning treatment.

Remember to always complete the treatment cycle before returning your dwarf puffer to the main tank, even if it is no longer showing signs of the original disease.

Has the quality of the aquarium water dropped?

Dwarf puffers can be sensitive to poor water quality and appreciate regular partial water changes to keep their aquarium water fresh. Without these partial water changes, nitrate levels can build up in the water to the point where they begin to affect the health of your dwarf puffer fish.

Testing your dwarf puffer’s water regularly is the best way to check if your water quality has deteriorated. I’ve been using Amazon’s API Master Test for many years. It’s reliable and pretty easy to use.

Is your dwarf puffer being bullied?

Occasionally, a dwarf puffer may be bullied or molested by another fish in the aquarium. This bullying can be so extreme that it actually stops the dwarf puffer from eating. If you think bullying could be the reason your dwarf puffer stopped eating, consider either removing the bullyfish or moving the dwarf puffer to a new home.

Bullying can take the form of physical attacks on the dwarf puffer, or simply denying the puffer a chance to eat.

What foods can you use to get your dwarf puffer to eat?

If your dwarf puffer hasn’t eaten in a few days and you want to entice it back to eating, there are several foods you can try.

snails

Dwarf puffer fish like to eat snails. There is a wide range of snails that we can offer our dwarf puffers including ramshorn snails, Malaysian trumpet snails and small miracle snails

live bloodworms

If you normally feed your dwarf puffers frozen bloodworms but they are not interested in eating them now, try live bloodworms instead. Live mosquito larvae naturally wriggle as they pass through the water column. This wriggling motion can sometimes stimulate your dwarf puffer’s feeding instincts.

Live Blackworms

If you normally feed bloodworms but your dwarf puffer just isn’t interested, try getting some live blackworms instead. Live black worms form a clump of wriggling worms that instantly attracts fish. Even a particularly stubborn dwarf puffer will have trouble resisting a bunch of wriggling live blackworms

vibrations

Vibrabites is a dry food from Hikari. The unique quality of Vibrabites is that it looks like mosquito larvae. Vibrabites is the only dry food I have successfully gotten dwarf puffers to eat. If your dwarf puffer is reluctant to eat their usual live or frozen food, try Vibrabites.

How often should dwarf puffer fish eat?

Ideally, dwarf puffer fish need to be fed 3 to 4 times a week. Eating regularly will help keep the dwarf puffer fish healthy.

If your dwarf puffer is not eating regularly, try increasing the food choices that are offered.

To go on vacation?

If you’re going on vacation and you’re not sure how long you can leave your dwarf puffer unfed, there’s a simple trick I learned a few years ago. Buy yourself a floating brood trap like this one on Amazon.

Put a handful of small snails in the trap and let them float in the dwarf puffer fish tank. Over the course of the week or so when you’re gone, the snails will slowly exit the hatchery and your dwarf puffer will eat them… it’s sort of a floating, automatic feeder.

Finally

Fish can go longer than we think when it comes to going without food. Dwarf puffers can certainly go 5 to 7 days without food and I suspect they could go longer if needed. The real question is WHY did your dwarf puffer fish stop eating. If there is an underlying problem, that problem may need to be addressed before your dwarf puffer can return to its normal appetite.

About the Author I have been keeping, breeding and displaying tropical fish for almost 30 years. In that time I’ve done everything! I’ve had great success and made some really stupid mistakes (like when I bought an Asain Walking Catfish). Read more… Richard James Editor

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Jason1520 Registered Member

Joined Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 84

I’ve had my Pocupine for about three months. He is still small, but he also shows these behaviors. I work the night shift so I get home around 8am. at this point there are no lights on and he usually sleeps on “his” rock or the Power Head. At 1 p.m. the lights come on. I wake up around 5 p.m., then he’s usually still lying around. By 6 or 7 p.m. he’s swimming around like a madman looking for food.

He eats like a cow! At 9pm the lights go out and he keeps swimming like a man until I leave at 9:30pm. On days off I’ve seen him swim until about 1am when all the other fish have been asleep for some time. I never knew they were nocturnal but this is interesting!

As for the sand, it’s hard for me to say. I have two engineer gobies that dig a lot! I had the porcupine “spit” water on me just before feeding time. He was perfectly normal on the surface and was so excited that he sucked up water, came over the surface and spat it onto my shirt. Has anyone ever heard that!? I could not believe it. I wasn’t sure if it was an accident or on purpose?

Some animals live fast and die young. That means they have to grow up fast, too. This week researchers crowned a new record holder for rapid growth: Science News’ Susan Milius reports that the turquoise killifish Nothobranchius furzeri, found in Mozambique, can reach full maturity in as little as 14 days, the fastest of any known vertebrate.

This rapid maturation is an adaptation to the killifish habitat, according to the study, published this week in the journal Current Biology. The fish spend most of their lives as tiny embryos deposited in sediment in small depressions in the savannah. When rain fills the ephemeral basins, the embryos mature rapidly, reaching sexual maturity and laying their own embryos before the basin dries up again. Not only do they make babies quickly, they also develop quickly—typically growing from about 5 millimeters to 54 millimeters in their lifespan.

The super-rapid maturation of the turquoise killifish has been known to researchers for some time. In fact, because of this trait, the fish is used as a model animal in aging studies. In the laboratory, where the fish live relatively leisurely, the average rate of maturation is 18 days.

The author of the new study, Martin Reichard, a biologist at the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague, and his team suspected that the fish might reach reproductive age even faster in the wild. They surveyed wild populations of killifish in southern Mozambique between January and May 2016, studying eight transient water pools. They found that the buried fish eggs hatched within three days after a rainstorm. By observing the gonads of males and females, the researchers found that the fish become sexually mature between 14 and 15 days.

“We hypothesized that some populations of this species could, under certain conditions, reach very rapid growth and sexual maturity,” says Reichard in a press release. “But we’ve found that this rapid maturation is the norm rather than a rare exception.”

Bilal Choudhry of the New York Times reports that growing up fast comes at a price. Their cells also deteriorate at a much faster rate than other fish, which means they age at a much faster rate as well. Then again, they don’t have much to live for – eventually their muddy hole evaporates, leaving them high and dry. This also means they don’t mess around when mating. “[These fish] don’t waste time on anything,” Reichard tells Milius. “Mating does not require elaborate courtship.”

Usually, a male just stretches out his flippers, and if the female likes what he sees, he drops an egg for him to fertilize. Then she swims to another male. Overall, she can release 20 to 100 eggs a day, “usually before noon,” says Reichard.

These embryos will eventually sink into the sediment as the pool dries — protected by a hard shell resembling a plant seed — waiting for the next round of rain, a technique known as diapause. It’s an adaptation to a backward lifestyle. Embryonic vertebrates usually grow up protected in a womb, an egg mass cared for by a lively mother fish or some other safe place. The hard part of life is growing up, foraging for food, avoiding predators, and finding a mate.

For Killifish, adulthood is a fast-paced orgy in a mud puddle, and the egg stage is the dangerous part. “Typically adult vertebrates cope with harsh conditions, like bears do in winter. In the embryos, however, it can be observed during their early stages of development,” Reichard tells Choudhry.

Research also shows that the rate at which fish age can vary. While the wild fish aged rapidly, some killifish in the lab took a lengthy 10 weeks to mature, five times longer than their wild cousins. In follow-up studies, the team hopes to examine the slight differences in maturation rates for wild killifish and why male killifish tend to die earlier than females.

And at the end of the day, if you’re worried about your kids growing up too fast, just be glad you’re not a killifish.

Common Name : Puffer Scientific Name : Tetraodontidae Species : Fish Diet : Carnivore Group Name : School Size : Up to 3 feet Size relative to a teacup :

Biologists believe that puffer fish, also known as pufferfish, evolved their famous “inflatability” because their slow, somewhat clumsy swimming style makes them vulnerable to predators. Rather than escape, puffer fish use their highly elastic stomachs and ability to quickly ingest large amounts of water (and even air if necessary) to transform themselves into a virtually inedible sphere many times their normal size. Some species also have spikes on their skin to make them even less palatable.

toxicity

A predator that manages to snag a puffer before it inflates will not be happy for long. Almost all puffer fish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them taste foul and is often fatal to fish. Tetrodotoxin is deadly to humans, being up to 1,200 times more toxic than cyanide. A puffer fish contains enough toxin to kill 30 adult humans and there is no known antidote.

As food

Surprisingly, the meat of some puffer fish is considered a delicacy. Called fugu in Japan, it is extremely expensive and only prepared by trained, licensed chefs who know that one bad cut means certain death for a customer. In fact, many such deaths occur annually.

population

There are more than 120 species of puffer fish worldwide. Most are found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters, but some species live in brackish and even fresh water. They have long, tapered bodies with bulbous heads. Some sport wild markings and colors to announce their toxicity, while others have more subdued or cryptic coloring to blend in with their surroundings.

Their size ranges from the 1-inch long pygmy or dwarf puffer to the freshwater giant puffer, which can grow to more than 2 feet in length. They are scaleless fish and typically have rough to spiny skin. All have four teeth fused into a beak-like shape.

diet

The diet of the puffer fish consists mainly of invertebrates and algae. Large specimens even break out and eat mussels, mussels and shellfish with their hard beaks. Venomous puffer fish are thought to synthesize their deadly toxin from the bacteria of the animals they eat.

Theaters to Survive

Some species of pufferfish are considered endangered due to pollution, habitat loss, and overfishing, but most populations are considered stable.

1:49

By Vanessa Voltolina

When we think of puffer fish, most of us picture a bloated fish with 360-degree quills. But if you look past the spikes, you’ll find a fish with an intriguing background. If you’re considering adding a puffer to your aquarium, or just want to learn more about these fish, here are ten facts about this exotic species of fish:

Fact #1: There are many types!

There are more than 120 different species of pufferfish, said Kristin Claricoates, DVM at Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital. Most of them are saltwater fish (read: need a saltwater aquarium). However, she said there are 40 species of puffer fish in brackish water (a mix of salt and fresh water) and 29 species in fresh water. Puffer fish can range in length from two inches to several feet.

Fact #2: Puffers are a delicacy…

Did you know that most puffer fish, when eaten, are poisonous to predators – and even humans? Despite this risk, countries like Korea, China and Japan still consider puffer fish a culinary delicacy, Claricoates says, and only specially trained chefs know how to safely serve them.

Fact #3: …This can be deadly

The toxin in puffer fish, called tetrodotoxin, is found throughout its body and is actually produced by bacteria, said Dr. Nick Saint-Erne, PetSmart’s Certified Aquatic Veterinarian. Puffer fish experimentally reared in a bacteria-free environment did not produce the toxin in this case. However, the chefs who prepare fugu, or puffer fillets, weren’t interested in serving a fish that didn’t have the toxin because the numbing effect of the toxin when the fish is eaten is what makes eating puffer fish alluring, he said. Even when properly prepared by a trained chef, about half a dozen diners die each year from the crippling effects of eating puffer fish, so it shouldn’t generally be considered food.

Fact #4: Puffers are a multi-threat fish

Although they use their fins to help them swim (with a caudal fin that acts as a rudder), puffers are notoriously slow-moving. However, they have other methods to deter or defeat predators to capture them, Claricoates said, including:

Excellent eyesight, helpful for scouting for food or spotting predators early.

A burst of energy they can muster to quickly swim away from predators (albeit in a poorly controlled direction).

When they can’t escape, they use the process they’re known for: swallowing large amounts of water (or air if they’re out of water) to make themselves large and unattractive, she said. This bloating, in addition to their spines and spines, makes them difficult for a predator to swallow (and can get stuck in the throat).

Even if a predator successfully eats a puffer, it can die from the poison in the puffer’s body.

Fact #5: Spines vs. Scales

Puffer fish don’t have scales, they have spines (which you might not be able to see well until they puff up), Claricoates said. Since puffer fish do not have scales, they are very sensitive to water fluctuations and tend to be more susceptible to disease. As a fish owner you need to be sure that the water quality is excellent – especially the nitrite, nitrate and ammonia levels in your aquarium. When these levels are high, it often indicates a dirty tank and can lead to health problems for your fish, she said. “Perform routine water quality checks to ensure the ideal health of your fish,” she said. Water checks can be done for you monthly by fish stores, or you can buy a home kit to test your water, she said.

Fact #6: Puffers require an experienced owner

“Buffets are not the ideal fish for a new fish owner,” said Claricoates, “nor should they be an impulse buy.” These fish need the best water quality, lots of space and a good diet. In addition, if you dream of an aquarium filled with all species, then these are not your fish. Puffer fish are not community fish and must be kept individually as they are carnivores.

“They either eat the other fish that are small enough, or they bite the other fish’s fins if they’re too big to eat,” she said. “However, if the puffers are very small, they will likely starve to death because they are too small to compete with better and faster swimmers in the tank. If kept properly, a puffer fish can live up to ten years.”

Fact #7: You are what you eat

In the wild, puffers are predators and eat a variety of snails, shellfish, crustaceans and other fish, Claricoates said. In captivity, puffers will eat almost anything, so a variety of foods should be offered to allow for a healthy mix, she said.

Claricoates recommends a diet consisting of foods with shellfish, including blue crabs, mussels, clams, shrimp, live snails and mosquito larvae. “At home, it’s important to find something that is food-grade for humans to keep your puffer healthy,” she said. “Live food is good for enrichment and preferable, but freshly killed or frozen food works just as well as long as it’s fresh for humans.”

She also advised that if or if you provide live food, it needs to be quarantined (in a separate tank) for a month before feeding it to your puffer. This ensures the food is healthy and prevents puffer diseases from unhealthy foods.

Fact #8: A puffer fish’s teeth never stop growing

Many species of fish have teeth that eventually stop growing, but puffer fish do not. Because they eat hard food, they have teeth (also called beaks) that grow throughout their lives, Claricoates said. It is therefore of the utmost importance to offer your puffers hard-shelled foods to trim their teeth organically. Without snails or the like, your puffer may need veterinary dental attention.

“Otherwise, [a puffer fish’s teeth] can grow too long and cause it to become unable to eat and even starve,” she said.

Fact #9: High quality H20 required

How much you feed your puffer—and what’s left over—will increase nitrates and nitrites in your tank. In addition, puffers are very messy eaters. Both of these issues can result in a lot of ammonia being released into the tank, Claricoates said, which places a greater demand on your tank’s filtration system.

Saint-Erne recommends changing 10 to 25 percent of the water with dechlorinated water every week in new aquariums, then doing a 25 percent water change every two to four weeks after the aquarium’s nitrogen cycle has been established and no ammonia has been detected in the water .

Keep in mind that while many puffer fish are saltwater fish, there are some species available at fish stores that are freshwater fish and it is important to determine what species your fish is when setting up your aquarium.

Fact #10: You need to oversize your tank room

When it comes to tank size, puffers need to be significantly improved over goldfish. The tank size for a small puffer should be 20 to 30 gallons, Claricoates said, and a large puffer may need a tank up to 100 gallons or larger.

Dwarf puffer fish belong to the genus Carinotetraodon along with at least four other species. Males have ridges along their back and abdomen that can be raised when displaying or threatening rivals.

Four species are fairly commonly traded and there are actually two species of dwarf pufferfish – Carinotetraodon travancoricus and C. imitator. Both are barely 2.5 cm/1 inch when mature and distinguishing between the two is difficult. Many exporters don’t seem to care, so dwarf puffers sold in aquarium stores can be either one species or a mix of the two.

Females and juveniles of both species are essentially identical, being golden brown with metallic reddish brown speckles and spots. Mature males of both have the keel visible through a dark band running down the belly of the fish. Flank spots are generally larger and arranged in longitudinal bands. At least some men have iridescent wrinkles behind their eyes.

There do not appear to be any uniform methods for distinguishing between male Carinotetraodon travancoricus and male C. mimics. Things get even more complicated with the species C. travancoricus, which is traded as the blue spotted dwarf puffer. It is essentially the same as the standard form, but with iridescent blue-green spots instead of reddish-brown.

ecology

Dwarf puffers are endemic to the Kerala region of India and are found in lakes and slow-flowing rivers with lots of underwater vegetation, foliage and submerged wood. Their irregular markings provide excellent camouflage and are difficult to spot from above – helping them evade predators like herons.

Water chemistry is variable; from soft and slightly acidic in some places to harsher and more alkaline conditions in others. While dwarf puffers are essentially freshwater fish, the water can be slightly brackish in at least some parts of their range, such as the Vembanad Wetlands.

In addition to these fish, there are a variety of others, some well-known, others less well-known. Typical components of the regional fish fauna are various barbels, danios and danios, halfbeaks and predatory fish such as glassfish (Parambassis spp.) and leaffish (Pristolepis marginata). One of the relatively few Asian cichlids is also from this part of the world – the rarely traded but beautiful Canara pearlspot (Etroplus canarensis).

social behavior

While dwarf puffer fish can easily be kept in groups, they need space and hiding places. Males defend territories and care for the young, so they tend to be the most aggressive. Use rocks and bog wood to create caves, then sprinkle plants over them to break each fish’s line of sight.

In dwarf pufferfish, territorial aggression is “out of sight, out of mind.” In terms of stocking density, a good rule of thumb is to allow around 10L/2.5 gal per puffer.

Dwarf puffer fish tend to be shy when settling into their new home. If you keep the light low they can settle in quickly and the next day they are usually active foraging for food and establishing territories. Eventually they become very courageous and eagerly swim to the front of the tank when they see their keeper.

On the menu

Dwarf puffers do not eat flakes or pellets and generally have little interest in freeze-dried foods, but a variety of live and frozen foods are readily taken so feeding these fish is not usually a problem.

Popular live foods include small pond snails, water fleas, earthworms, mosquito larvae and mosquito larvae. Live brine shrimp are happily eaten, but as they have little nutritional value, should only be an occasional treat.

Almost any small, meaty frozen food will do. Bloodworms, glassworms, black bloodworms, and krill are all good staples. Occasional bites of chopped seafood such as squid and mussels can complement the diet, which should be varied to avoid vitamin deficiency problems.

Dwarf puffers are skilled beggars and quickly learn to teach their owners to feed them when needed! Feed them in small amounts two or three times a day so they have gently rounded but not swollen bellies. Remove uneaten food quickly to avoid water quality problems.

water conditions

The water quality must be excellent. Ammonia and nitrite levels simply need to be zero and nitrate levels should be as low as possible – definitely below 50 mg/l and ideally below 20.

To ensure good water quality, filtration should be between four and six times the volume of the tank in turnover per hour.

Some stories describe dead dwarf puffers found in filters, but whether they were sucked in post mortem or while alive is open to conjecture. In any case, do not use too strong a filter and make sure that the inlet is protected with a reasonably fine mesh.

Managing nitrate is all about minimizing the food that goes into the tank while maximizing the amount of water that comes out. Depending on the stocking density, water changes of 25-50% per week are recommended.

In contrast, water chemistry is not a major issue and dwarf puffers adapt well to a wide range of conditions – provided extremes are avoided. Ideal conditions would be around pH 7.5, 10ËšdH for general maintenance, although slightly softer conditions may be required for spawning. There is no need to add salt to the water, although this has occasionally been suggested in the past.

A water temperature between 25-28°C/77-82°F is good for dwarf puffer fish and these fish cannot be kept in unheated tanks.

aquarium requirements

Dwarf puffers can easily be kept in systems as small as 45L/10 gal, however smaller aquariums are not recommended due to the resulting water quality and pH stability issues. Very small tanks often have inadequate filter systems and dwarf puffer fish cannot tolerate elevated levels of ammonia or nitrite for long.

Small tanks also experience larger pH drops between water changes than larger tanks, and while they are adaptable, these puffers don’t like rapid pH changes any more than other tropical fish. While some people recommend tiny nano tanks for dwarf puffer fish, I think these fish are best reserved for 45 L/10 gal systems or larger.

Bright lighting is neither necessary nor desirable, so it generally makes sense to choose plants that don’t require high levels of light. Java moss, Java fern, Anubias and hardy Cryptocoryne species such as C. wendtii are recommended.

Fast growing floating plants like Limnobium laevigatum are also useful for providing shade and cover while helping to remove nitrate.

Wild pufferfish spend much of their time exploring, hovering over solid surfaces rather than cruising around mid-water. Their slow, deliberate swimming is adapted to this, allowing them to examine every square inch of the plants, rocks and submerged forests around them. Offer your puffers such opportunities.

It doesn’t matter how you do this, and your puffers will be just as happy exploring the floating roots of Limnobium laevigatum as they would be a plastic mermaid or a clump of java moss.

Surprisingly, these fish can jump when alarmed and should not be kept in an open aquarium.

breeding behavior

Dwarf puffers have occasionally been bred in home aquariums. Due to problems in distinguishing the two species, it is not clear which reports belong to Carinotetraodon travancoricus and which to C. imitator, but in all likelihood their breeding behaviors are identical. In fact, the overall process is very similar to other Carinotetraodon species as well.

Sexually mature males can be recognized by their lighter colors and mature females ready to spawn become noticeably rounder as they fill up with eggs. Males secure territories between feathered plants, with java moss and willow moss (Fontinalis spp.) being particularly popular.

A male will lure a female by raising his keel and engaging in fluttering dance routines. Spawning is very boisterous as the eggs are scattered in the moss. He then quickly chases the female away and assumes full responsibility for brood care.

The eggs hatch after about five days, but the fry do not begin to swim for at least another week. Once that happens, the male loses interest and he should be removed. The free-swimming juveniles now need to be fed tiny live foods like microworms and Cyclops nauplii. Growth is fairly rapid and the brood will be around 1 cm in size after two months.

Spawning occurs easily when the dwarf puffers are given the right conditions, namely plenty of live food, slightly soft and acidic water conditions (pH 6.5-7, 5-10ËšdH) and suitable spawning grounds.

The tricky part is raising the eggs and fry as the eggs are susceptible to fungal infections, especially in hard water.

The tank must be spotlessly clean and the aquarist should use a pipette to extract uneaten food and droppings.

Select tankmates

There are no valid reasons to keep aquarium mates with dwarf puffer fish. The notion that they need a “clean-up crew” is particularly misleading. It’s your job to keep the tank clean!

Catfish, snails, and shrimp are all redundant in a well-maintained puffer tank—and adding other livestock only increases the rate at which nitrate builds up, affecting water quality and making your fish more susceptible to disease.

Carinotetraodon spp. also tend to be pincers and dwarf puffers are certainly no exception. They cannot be paired with any of the usual community fish and show a particular fondness for the fins of some slow-moving species such as angels, gouramis, livebearers and armored catfish.

The dwarf catfish of the genus Otocinclus are often recommended as good companions. On one level it can be said that dwarf puffers and otocinclus catfish get along pretty well. Dwarf puffer fish can sometimes nibble on them, but these catfish are fast swimmers and quickly learn to avoid trouble. However, Otocinclus are not particularly easy fish to keep. Their mortality rate immediately after import is high – they are prone to starvation and sensitive to poor water quality.

In the wild, Otocinclus feed almost exclusively on green algae and growths, so it is important that they have an adequate diet. Seaweed waffles are a good staple, enhanced with extras like mashed canned peas and thinly sliced ​​cucumbers. These are useless as scavengers and will not eat species of algae that grow in dimly lit tanks, such as diatoms and hairy algae.

They are schooling fish that need to be kept in groups of at least six individuals and as particularly active swimmers who require a lot of oxygen, this scenario practically requires a 90 l/20 gal tank for them.

Small algae-eating shrimp like Amano and Cherry may make better choices, but keep in mind that in their smaller sizes, this is simply puffer food! Baby cherry shrimp, for example, are eaten by dwarf puffer fish without hesitation, and smaller species such as bumblebee shrimp are still endangered even when fully grown.

Dwarf puffers are best kept in groups of their own kind, but this isn’t really a problem as they are such entertaining animals. Properly cared for, dwarf puffers are adorable little fish that more than justify the expense of an aquarium of their own.

The other four…

Four other Carinotetraodon are currently recognized. The red-eye puffer, C. lorteti (above), has been around for decades, but since both sexes tend to be snappy with each other as well as other fish, it has never been more popular. However, if you are willing to keep it in its own aquarium, it is fun and attractive.

Male C. lorteti are beautiful fish; greenish brown above and cream below and streaked with mustard yellow and an orange keel. The caudal fin is metallic blue-green with white edges. Females are mottled brown above, solid white below. As the name suggests, both sexes have red eyes. The maximum length is about 5 cm/2 inches.

The red-tailed roach buffalo, C. irrubesco, has less vibrant colors than those of C. lorteti, but is a milder species that does much better in groups. Males are chocolate brown above, cream below, and have red tails. The bands on the top of the body are cream and the keel is orange.

Females resemble those of C. lorteti, but the abdomen is not simply white but bears numerous brown curlicues.

The beautiful red-eye puffer (C. salivator) is now rarely traded. Males are mottled brown with an orange belly, tail and bright red keel, and may also sport a distinctive pattern of oblique and vertical bands across the head and flanks.

Females are very similar to females of C. irrubesco except that instead of having brown flourishes on the abdomen, they have vertical stripes.

Note that C. salivator is a vicious, unsociable species that requires space and plenty of hiding places when kept in groups. The maximum length seems to be well over 6.5 cm/2.5 inches.

The Borneo red-eye puffer (C. borneensis) is not traded as often, probably because it has temperament problems. It is similar to C. lorteti, but has turned out to be much more snappy and aggressive in the few attitudes it has had.