Most people think of Puffer Fish as an ocean-going marine species. But what many people don’t realize is that there are a huge variety of over 30 freshwater species found all over the world, generally from warmer water climes.
From the diminutive Pea Puffer that is only about an inch long to the whopping 24-inch long Mbu Freshwater Puffer, there is a lot to talk about. There is a wide variation in their looks and sizes, but for the most part, they tend to behave similarly.
This is a fish that should be kept to themselves in just about every case, so they tend to be a little bit special for a hobbyist. You either go with Puffers all-out, or you have a community tank and then a separate tank just for your Puffers, no in-between.
There isn’t a lot of argument for having them with other fish, or it will end in tears. Think Piranha with balloon-ish looks when the moment suits.
Freshwater Puffer Fish (Tetraodontidae Family) should really and truly only be kept by experienced or advanced hobbyists due to their well-acknowledged aggressive nature.
So why do so many people decide to keep them? Well, the reality is that when you take away the confrontation of other species and choose to keep them in a suitable habitat, they are known for being the ‘Dogs of the Aquarium Hobby.’
That’s right, they have hilarious looks and expressions, which is rare for a fish, and they come fully loaded with bags of personality akin to having a canine. This is quite enticing for experienced folks in the hobby. Having a tranquil, beautiful fish tank to look at is one thing, but having fish who recognize you and interact is something else.
Couple that with some spectacular moves when they feed and hunt, and you can be sure many aquarists will double down and have a Puffer tank, even if that means having a second one creating more work for the upkeep.
This article will look at some of the most popular species of freshwater Puffers available to the hobby and do some general guidelines on their characteristics and care.
Let’s take a gulp of water to puff up and fill our boots with some reasons why these fish have achieved such notoriety!
Freshwater Puffer Fish Behavior
Puffers are notoriously aggressive. Sure, they look cute and cuddly with their expressive faces. But underlying those goofy lips is a sharp beak ready to strike and kill.
They’re territorial too, and not just in breeding season!
They have three typical modes of hunting. Open water, ambush, and stealth modes.
Ambush hunters like to bury their bodies in the sand and then strike when something passes by, not unlike the trapdoor spider. Anything unsuspecting is likely to perish at the beak of the Puffers who adopt this mode like the Congo Puffer, for example.
Stealth hunters like the Dwarf or Red-Tailed Puffer hide in the vegetation and then pounce on potential prey. It’s an almost cat-like maneuver and adds to their watchability.
More commonly, you have open water hunters who, like most fish, swim around and keep a beady eye on potential food sources. They are opportunists who will snatch and grab as they go consuming crustaceans, snails, clams, and any other prey they see fit.
Since you will have these fish alone in a tank, they feel free to roam at all levels of the tank.
But you should beware that they have been known to make their feelings known if they haven’t had their food on time. They have a way of launching water at unsuspecting owners to say, “I’m hungry; let’s get a move on.” Dog-like indeed.
These fish need hard-shelled food sources to keep their beaks in check, which are already a danger zone! So ensure you have mollusks that help to raze down the beak teeth, which would otherwise grow endlessly, rending them incapable of eating.
Freshwater Puffer Fish Lifespan
Freshwater Puffers, in general, can live for up to 10 years, but this will vary with the specific variety you choose to keep.
This will also depend on your level of tank management and cleaning regime to keep water parameters healthy and happy for your fish.
Pea Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus)
The smallest Puffer in the world, including its marine brethren, the Pea Puffer is a feisty little inch of fish that often becomes a gateway to keeping other varieties.
They don’t need a huge amount of space, and they are fun to keep, but you should be aware that they are encroaching on endangered status in the wild. They are difficult to breed in captivity, so sourcing your Pea Puffers should be done with conservation in mind avoiding wild-caught.
Pea Puffer Appearance
They vary from yellowy shades to green to light brown with lighter shaded bellies. Spots are always present but can vary in size. They almost appear finless because they are so small and translucent, which is all they need for their native habitat, which is typically stagnant waters with no flow.
Pea Puffer Tank Setup
This is a nano-fish that will adapt well in smaller tanks from 5 – 10 gallons, but 10 is best, and in that size, you can keep 2 or 3.
Small but intelligent, you won’t want your Pea Puffers to get bored, and they do get bored easily. Plenty of vegetation is needed to occupy their time, and they must have enough horizontal space in the tank to establish their own turf. So avoid vertical-shaped tanks.
Great plants to incorporate include Java Fern and Moss, Crypts, Amazon Swords, and Bacopa.
Low flow filtration will help mimic their stagnant water habitat, and regular cleaning and water changes will keep these little Peas happy in their pod.
Pea Puffers are a type that will enjoy being housed in a group of themselves, but you’ll need to allocate 5 gallons per fish to allow for territory and to avoid any infighting.
How To Feed Pea Puffers
Pea Puffers will only eat live of frozen foods, so prepare to get a little messy because flakes and pellets aren’t going to cut it. Little snails are a great way to keep their beaks trimmed and offer some fun observations as they hunt.
Bloodworms, larvae, and brine shrimp should round out their diet for a healthy fish.
The Congo Puffer (Tetraodon miuris)
This species is predictably from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as their name suggests. They are definitely harder to source in the trade, but if you find them, they are worth the effort.
Unlike the Pea Puffer, they are very common in the wild and are not endangered. It’s just getting your hands on one that is tricky. Their highly aggressive nature means you cannot let them cohabit with other invertebrates or fish, as they will inevitably strike, perceiving them as prey.
Congo Puffer Appearance
They have occasionally been labeled the Potato Puffer because they do resemble an unpeeled potato, have a potato shape, and match the coloring for a baked potato. So not the most glamorous Puffer on the planet. Perhaps this is why they aren’t as easily sourced for the hobby.
Needless to say, they are larger and grow up to 5 – 6 inches in length, making them more substantial to keep.
Their coloring helps them hunt as they are ambush predators who bury themselves in the sand.
Congo Puffer Tank Setup
A minimum of 55 gallons is needed for a single Congo Puffer.
Super soft sand is a must because of how this fish will bury itself to hunt.
Strong filtration is needed to provide the amount of flow these guys love and to offer the high level of oxygenation required.
Plenty of vegetation applies to the Congo Puffer, too, and even if it’s solo, it will appreciate setting up its own home quarters in the tank for a sense of security.
How To Feed Congo Puffers
Given the nature of this fish and its hunting style of ambush, live prey is what it will crave.
Crustaceans, invertebrates, smaller fish, and anything with shells will help this fish live to its fullest and act out with its natural hunting behaviors.
Frozen can be complementary, but live sources are always best.
Fahaka Puffer (Tetraodon lineatus)
If you happen to be so lucky as to have a gigantic aquarium (and have the spare time to manage the upkeep) of a size of 150 gallons or up, you might be in the running to acquire the rather large Fahaka Puffer.
Fahaka Puffer Appearance
With vibrant yellowy-green base colors and greyish-black circular rings that blur into lateral lines that envelop the pectoral fins, these fish are really something to look at, and with their impressive size, they do hold an audience.
These grow to 18 inches but can get larger, so the size of the tank is critical so they can move freely in the tank.
Fahaka Puffer Tank Setup
150 gallons is the minimum for one, but the bigger, the better.
They are sensitive to water conditions and need the parameters to be kept strictly adhered to. Given their size, they produce a lot of waste and require weekly water changes of 50% to keep the water in good nick.
Plenty of vegetation like all Puffers is the order of the day here too. Extra filtration will help keep the nasties like nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia at bay, and these guys do like some water flow.
How To Feed Fahaka Puffers
If you’ve already committed the size of the tank needed to have one of these, you shouldn’t be too surprised by the level of feed commitment required either.
These are not cheap fish to feed! They absolutely must have hard-shelled foods such as clams, mussels, crabs, crayfish, snails, and other shelled mollusks. If you don’t provide these types of food sources, their beak will become unmanageable and will impair their ability to eat.
Larger worms are good too but forget about the little ones more commonly used in the hobby. They want thick and juicy worms suited to their size.
Eyespot Puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus)
The Eyespot Puffer is a quirky little fellow who also goes by the name the Figure Eight Pufferfish.
Eyespot Puffer Appearance
The figure-eight moniker is due to the coloring on their back, which bears some black circular patterns on the yellowy-green base body color.
On their very rear-placed dorsal fin, which is on the last quarter of their length, almost merging with the caudal fin, there are two black spots rimmed in yellow that mimic eyes or look like a figure eight from above.
Reaching only 3 inches in length, these guys are another good Puffer to try for smaller spaces and tank sizes.
Eyespot Puffer Tank Setup
A 20-gallon tank is ideal, but the bigger you can go, the better as they are territorial like all Puffers are.
It’s been reported that these fish can do well in both freshwater or brackish tanks, and there are arguments for both. However, freshwater is easier to keep consistent if you’re new to Puffers, and a brackish setup is best left to the experts.
Rocks, driftwood, plants, and caves give them the security they crave because of their size, and you may be able to have a few of them together, but again we would avoid mixing with a community of other fish. They may be small, but they are very driven!
How To Feed Eyespot Puffer Fish
Eyespot Puffers require the same type of food supply as some much larger Puffers. That is to say that they will thrive off of hard-bodied foods to keep their beaks in check, and live sources are preferred. Think clams, shrimp, mollusks of all types, and frozen if you need to.
Are Freshwater Puffer Fish A Good Idea For Your Aquarium?
With their sparkling dog-like personalities, they are a little tank wonder to behold, as long as you keep them separate to avoid their, ahem, vivacious proclivities that may injure other species.
Whether you go big or small, there are a lot of ofter Pufferfish species to check out beyond the scope of our article here, so if none of these tickle your fancy, do look into other varieties that might suit you better. There are so many to choose from!
We’re sure you will love a Pufferfish in the right type of setup. And that’s no puffery.
