The aquarium hobby has seen an increase in the number of different species of Indian origin over the past few decades. Among them is the Pea Puffer, a small and intelligent little fish which is sure to make a great addition to any tank. Throughout this article we will be discussing everything you need to know about this species as well as how to properly care for them within your home aquarium. We will even cover how to start your own little breeding project and interesting facts that may help you and your pufferfish.
First lets start with a brief overview, this is ideal for anyone looking for some quick information to see if this fish is compatible for your aquarium set up.
Category Rating
- Care Level: Intermediate
- Temperament: Territorial and aggressive
- Color Form: Sex dependent but predominantly yellow
- Lifespan: 4 Years
- Size: 1.4″
- Diet: Mainly carnivorous
- Family: Tetraodontiformes
- Minimum Tank Size: 5 Gallons
- Pond Set-Up: Heavily planted
- Compatible: Tropical freshwater
Pea Puffer Overview
The Pea Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) also goes by a few other names including the Dwarf Pufferfish, Pea Puffer Fish, Pygmy Pufferfish, Dwarf Pea Puffer and the Malabar Pufferfish.
It gets these names because of its size – it is one of the smallest members of its family, growing to a maximum size of 1.4 inches. Their small size and lifespan of up to 4 years amongst other factors has caused the popularity of this species to soar over the past few decades. Unfortunately, this has resulted in wild caught specimens being captured, and has caused this species to be listed as vulnerable to extinction. That is why it’s important to try and source your fish from a reputable place that breeds them in captivity. These fish can be purchased for a relatively cheap price of around $4 per fish. We recommend purchasing from a local fish store as this gives you the opportunity to select healthier individuals. These fish are truly fascinating little creatures, which as well as being able to change their color, Pea Puffer Fish are also capable of using their eyes independently of one another.
Typical Behavior
Male Pea Puffer Fish can be very territorial and aggressive towards each other which is why it is really important that when keeping these fish, you keep a single male and several females. This will reduce aggressive behavior as well as encourage breeding. Unlike many species of Tetraodontiformes which are solitary fish, Pufferfish are actually social species which are found in large shoals. They occupy all regions of the tank and can be found in and amongst plant life as well as out in the open scavenging for food. These fish are inquisitive and pay close attention to their surroundings within the tank as well as what you are doing outside of it.
Appearance of Pea Puffer
Dwarf Pea Puffers were given their name due to their exceptionally small size. They grow to a maximum length of 1.4 inches which makes them one of the smallest Pufferfish species on the planet. They are both round in the body and thin towards their back end of the dorsal and anal fins. When looking at them you will notice their particularly large eyes for their small body size. Males and females differ in appearance which makes them relatively easy to sex. Males have a bright yellow belly compared to the lighter yellow-white bellies of females. Males also possess a dark stripe on their belly which the females do not have. Males are typically a darker golden-green coloration where females are a lighter yellow-green. Both males and females have dark patches on the upper side of the body, however males have a thick dark stripe which runs from the pectoral fins to the caudal fin and females have random tiny black spots across their body. Males also have wrinkles around their eyes.
Pea Puffer Habitat and Tank Requirements
The Dwarf Puffer come from rivers, lakes and estuaries in Southwest India. The conditions of the water vary between each body of water with a pH ranging from 6.5-8.5 and an average water temperature of 25°C. However, some parts have been known to reach 33°C.
These fish are sometimes found in the slightly brackish waters of estuaries – however they are not a brackish water fish and should not be kept in such conditions in your home aquaria as this will reduce their life expectancy. Their home range receives around 12 hours of sunlight throughout the summer months and is reduced to around 10.5 hours during the winter months. These fish prefer to occupy slow flowing areas of rivers and still lake waters in banks where there is plenty of plant life to shelter them from the flow of the water as well as predation. It is in these heavily planted areas where these intelligent little hunters do the majority of their feeding as well as their breeding.
Tank Setup
Within your aquarium, you should aim to keep these fish in freshwater with a temperature of 25-27°C – the pH of the water should be maintained between 6.5 and 7.0.
If you are using a filter with an adjustable outlet for water, then point it towards the back of the tank to keep the water flow to a minimum. The substrate should be either a coarse sand or small particle gravel which will allow room for plant roots to spread. When it comes to plants, the more you include the better as it will provide a more naturalistic feel for the fish and will encourage breeding behavior as well as providing plenty of dissolved oxygen to help your fish breathe. Plants like Anubias Nana, Stargrass, Cabomba and Java Moss are all great options and there are many more to choose from. You may want to purchase some long aquascape tweezers and scissors for maintaining and planting new plants when your fish are already in the tank to prevent being bitten by their razor-sharp beaks.
Pea Puffer Tank Size?
The minimum size of aquarium recommended for a Dwarf Puffer is a 5 gallon tank. A breeding setup should be 20 gallons which will provide plenty of space for one male to be housed with 3 females. For every 5 gallons of water your aquarium holds, you should only house one Pea Puffer.
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