The enigmatic pufferfish, a fish so recognizable and mesmerizing for their ability to shapeshift at the drop of an anchor. What many people don’t know is that they aren’t just ocean-going marine fare.
There is a littler, freshwater version known as the Pea Puffer (short for pufferfish) that also goes by the moniker Dwarf Puffer, Dwarf Indian Puffer, Malabar Pufferfish, and Pygmy Puffer.
Its size and relatively easy care following proper guidance make them an animated joy to watch, get to know, and smile at.
They have exploded in popularity for these reasons, and you would be hard-pressed to find a hobbyist who was disappointed at choosing a Pea Puffer.
These charismatic little fish are native to slower-moving waters in the southwest of India and are classified as a vulnerable species in the wild due to dwindling habitats. So if you are interested in sourcing any, make sure they are from a reputable captive breeder.
They make intriguing additions to freshwater tanks for hobbyists looking to find something that little bit extra special and different.
Pea Puffer Behavior
Traditionally pufferfish have been associated with terrorizing tank communities and relentless biting of anything in their path.
They are extremely territorial on the whole, and aggression really could be their middle name. Males and females are easily distinguished from one another, and you can reduce aggressive activity if you keep only a single male with several females to occupy his radar.
Socially speaking, they are normally found in large shoals and enjoy taking overall levels in your tank, thank you very much.
Their characterful faces create all manner of expression, and they are usually just as aware of what is happening in their tank as they are monitoring the action on the other side of the glass.
Considered almost ‘dog-like’ by super fans, Pea Puffers can be seen begging for food and, as they are highly intelligent, can often even recognize their owners!
You should also be aware that due to their aggression towards other fish and propensity to bite and fin nip, you are much better off housing this species in a tank all their own: less drama, more fun to watch for you without the stress and worry.
Ideally, they will need a tank large enough for them to stake a claim on their private turf, and we will investigate tank needs a little later.
The much-vaunted ‘puffing’ action, while fascinating to see, should not be encouraged. It is a defensive posture whereby the threatened fish fills itself up by drinking excessive amounts of water, and it swells into a rounded or exaggerated shop. As the threat ceases, they will gradually ‘deflate’ (even though this is water, not air to be clear) to normal size.
You should not stress your fish just to witness this behavior, and any visitors would do well to be reminded of this as well.
Are Pea Puffer Fish Poisonous?
Everyone who knows what a pufferfish does when threatened probably also knows the fun fact that in Japan, a certain species of pufferfish is a delicacy. This delicacy needs a specially licensed chef to remove certain areas of the fish where a toxin becomes concentrated.
Multiple species of pufferfish have toxins in their bodies, and even then, it is diet-related and fluctuates.
The good news is that Pea Puffers are not on the list to worry about, not that you should be eating your hobby anyway!
Pea Puffer Lifespan
For a small fish, they can live for up to 4 years on average, which is a good age.
We will discuss more on tank requirements a little later in this article.
Pea Puffer Appearance
At the tiniest end of the pufferfish size scale (which is wildly variable), the Pea Puffers get their most commonly used hobbyist name from their pea-sized appearance. Topping out at 1.4 inches makes them rather small and almost hard to imagine puffing up.
Round bodies with a tapering in width as you each the tail and anal fins, they feature round eyes that look almost comically large in proportion to the rest of their bodies. Perhaps less comical when they are puffed up?
Sexual dimorphism is present, and it is quite easy to distinguish males from their female counterparts.
Males present a deeper green-gold color and have a brilliant hello stomach that also features a dark stripe. They have wrinkles around their eyes and darker patches on their upper bodies punctuated by a thick dark stripe from the pectoral to the tail fin.
Females, on the other hand, are markedly lighter green-yellow, have a light or even white stomach, and have no line on their abdomen. They, too, will have darker patches on their upper bodies but have a camouflaging pattern of spots that sprinkle over the body. Lucky for the ladies, they are usually wrinkle-free.
All Pea Puffers have a sharp beak, which is four fused teeth that are the bane of any tank mate’s existence. This is the source of all the nipping action and a good reason to keep them separate.
Pea Puffer Habitat And Tank Requirements
For the healthiest fish, all aquarists should aspire to recreate their natural habitats as closely as possible.
These fish love pristine clear waters, so filtration should be high on your agenda.
They are also quite particular about their habitat and demand that you pay attention to get it right for happy puffers that will bring you joy.
It’s prudent to note here and now that for minimum fuss, consider having just one male with a cohort of females to avoid males fighting during breeding periods. They will attack one another violently and fight to the point of death, which could be avoided.
Let’s look at some specifics that are needed.
Tank Conditions
Setting the landscape for your Pea Puffers needs some thoughtful planning and due process. The harder part is maintaining the pristine water condition to keep them happy!
The substrate can be coarse sand or gravel, mimicking the Indian river where all these species come from.
After that, you need to provide places to explore, and if at all possible, a banked style design to recreate the riverbank edges that puffers tend to hang around busily in the wild.
They enjoy rocks and caves too, but driftwood makes a compelling place for them to investigate day after day.
Pea Puffers can consume a lot and are messy eaters so expect a bioload that requires excellent but not overpowered filtration.
In terms of filtration, an external sponge filter will keep the water moving to their liking, but you do not need extra air or water pumps. Be sure to keep return water flow on the less enthusiastic side to reduce water motion which will befuddle these fairly clumsy fellows.
These are not agile, speedy fish who glide gracefully. In fact, they are susceptible to swim bladder issues and are fairly ungraceful as they bob around all and sundry in their exploratory efforts.
Vegetation-wise, you should plan on having an abundance of plant life; otherwise, stress can be induced as they will lack instinctive places to hide.
Some great plants to have include Java Moss, Hornwort, Stargrass, Java Fern, Anubias Nana, and other floating plants with roots that will float irresistibly in the middle layer of your tank.
Water changes will need to be ideally twice weekly, and at least 25% each change, and a heater is recommended to keep the water suitably warm and even.
Water conditions should be noted, tested regularly, and maintained as follows:
- pH of 6.5 – 7.0
- Water hardness between 5 – 25 dGH
- Temperature between 72 – 79ºF ( 22 – 26ºC)
- Lighting can be kept moderate
Tank Size
The minimum tank size needed is 20 gallons for 3 – 4 Pea Puffers due to their shoaling and social behavior. You would need approximately 5 gallons per fish as you add more to your community.
They need a lot of space to explore to keep them occupied, and the tank shape should ideally be kept rectangular.
Giving them enough territory apiece is important for their health and reducing stress levels as well as aggressive displays.
Choosing Tank Mates For Pea Puffers
Well, we think we’ve already highlighted that tank mates are not an ideal situation for captive Pea Puffers.
If you decide you truly want to take the plunge and involve them in a wider community, then do your homework and expect there to be some degree of heartache as you are likely to lose some of your existing familiar faces as they get established.
Here are your best bets if you are taking on this challenge which features small, agile swimmers who can outwit the puffers:
- Neon Tetras
- Zebra Danios
- Dwarf Otocinclus
- Filament Barbs
- Mosquito, Harlequin and Soaquito Rasboras
You will want to avoid any shrimp or snails as they will be hunted down like prey in short order.
Also, avoid aggressive Cichlids, which is a recipe for disaster. Fish with flowing fins will not last long either, nor should you consider large Catfish or Guppies who will be able to eat your Pea Puffers before they try to nip at them.
Pea Puffer Common Health Issues
Pea Puffers are a fairly hardy bunch without and species-specific diseases to be mindful of, but they do often have swim bladder issues and are picky about their environment.
However, being tropical freshwater fish, they are prone to a few common afflictions of similar freshwater tank residents.
Ich is a common parasitic infection that can happen to any freshwater aquarium kept fish. White spots are what become noticeable and can lead to issues with respiration, so you must keep an eye out for those.
While Ich is highly treatable, it’s best to catch early as it can otherwise lead to more serious conditions. Isolation of any fish that are affected is best to avoid spread and can be treated with medication as prescribed.
The best way to avoid either of these afflictions is regular and thorough water changes. Sticking to a strict schedule and following a routine is the easiest way to have healthy fish as a hobbyist.
How To Breed Pea Puffers
When it comes to wanting to increase your Pea Puffer population, most of you should be in a perfect setup for it to happen without even having to think about it.
Considering that most people keep them separated from other species and added to that one male-only to avoid infighting and potential fatalities between males, you’ve got a decent setup from the get-go.
If you keep more than one male for larger shoals, then be observant about readiness for breeding season and do isolate males to avoid conflict.
A slightly raised tank temperature will help encourage breeding behavior, and the inclusion of some bogwood is a nice touch that encourages healthy bacteria beneficial for the eventual fry.
Tanks should already be heavily planted, but the female will guide the male into the lush vegetation when she is ready to lay her eggs.
Fry will hatch in about 2 days and live for a further 2-3 days consuming the egg nutrients.
Conclusion
Pea Puffers are remarkable characters who exhibit an interesting appearance and who you really won’t need to worry too much about in terms of interactions if you keep your male-to-female ratio sensible.
They are less concerned about who they are in a tank with and far more interested in the nitty-gritty details of their environment if territorial wars and land have been claimed as their own.
Their expressive nature and casual shoaling activities can be rather transfixing for their owners, and you are unlikely to have a dull moment watching their antics and interactions.
Just remember to choose your supplier carefully and maintain their sparklingly clean water conditions. You, too, should enjoy having a gang of puffers as much as your fellow enthusiasts.
