Pea puffers are one of the coolest oddball species you can keep in a smaller-sized aquarium. They’re known for their helicopter-like maneuverability, independently moving eyes, and of course, ability to inflate like a tiny water balloon. In this practical care guide, we answer your most frequently asked questions about these amazing, little creatures.
What Is a Pea Puffer?
Carinotetraodon travancoricus – also known as the pea puffer, Indian dwarf puffer, Malabar puffer, and pygmy puffer – is the smallest pufferfish in the world and comes from fully freshwater environments in the southwestern tip of India. Growing only to one inch long, they’re sold for anywhere from $3 to $15 at your local fish store (usually not available at pet store chains). When choosing your pet puffer, make sure to pick a healthy fish with a nicely rounded belly. It also helps to ask the fish store employees what they feed the puffers since they can be picky eaters.
Nowadays most pea puffers are captive bred, but if they’re wild caught, they may need additional deworming medication. We’ve used our quarantine medication trio as a preventative treatment on thousands of pea puffers with no harmful effects.
Even though puffers are considered “scaleless” fish, these three medications are proven to be safe for them. Make sure to use the full recommended dosages on them, or else pathogens may survive the treatment.
Do Pea Puffers Puff Up?
Yes. It is rare, but you may catch your pufferfish in act of puffing up as a defensive mechanism or just for practice. Pufferfish puff up by sucking in water to increase their size and discourage would-be predators. If let alone, it will shrink back down to its normal shape in due time.
Please do not deliberately stress out your pet to “make” it inflate. Instead, you can find plenty of pictures and videos online to see what it looks like. Also, if you need to move or transport your pea puffer, it’s best to use a cup or small container (instead of a net) so that the fish remains submerged in water at all times and won’t accidentally suck in air.
How Many Pea Puffers Can You Have in a 10-Gallon Tank?
Given how territorial pea puffers can be, many people have a lot of success keeping just one pea puffer in a five-gallon aquarium by itself. If you want to keep more than one, the general rule of thumb is to provide five gallons of water for the first puffer and three gallons of water for each additional puffer. In other words, it is possible to keep three puffers in a 10-gallon tank and six to seven puffers in a 20-gallon tank, but your rate of success depends on how well you set up their environment. If the tank is mostly bare without a lot of cover, expect to see a pufferfish battle zone. If you have a lush, densely planted aquarium, you might be able to handle three puffers in a 10-gallon space.
Of course, the larger the aquarium, the better. More water volume provides more dilution of waste (since poor water quality can harm your puffer’s health), as well as more space for the puffers to avoid each other. Plus, having a ratio of one male for every two to three females tends to decrease aggression, but most pea puffers are sold as juveniles, which are hard to sex. If you find yourself in a situation where you purchased three young puffers and ended up with one female and two males, you may need to rehome at least one male to minimize the fighting.
Up to six or seven pea puffers can be kept in a 20-gallon aquarium (with no other tank mates) if you provide lots of cover in the form of aquarium plants or decorations.
How Do You Tell the Difference Between a Male and Female Pea Puffer?
It can be a little tricky, but males tend to have deeper coloration with a stripe or dot on their belly. Their bodies are on the slenderer side, and they exhibit more aggressive behavior in general. Females, on the other hand, have a yellow belly and tend to be plumper in shape.
Do Pea Puffers Need a Heater?
They do well in stable, tropical temperatures from 74 to 82°F, so if your room temperature is below this range or tends to fluctuate a lot, you need an aquarium heater. For more information on what size heater is right for you, read our full article here.
In terms of other tank parameters, people have kept them at pH levels of 6.5 to 8.4. A pH range between 7.2 to 7.5 is ideal, but it’s more important to keep the pH levels stable rather than aim for a specific number. Because they’re not the fastest swimmers, you should also usea gentle filter with a slower flow rate.
What Do Pea Puffers Eat?
These hardcore carnivores are best fed on a diet of frozen foods (like frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp) and live foods (like little pest snails or blackworms). They typically will not take dry foods, but we’ve had good luck with Hikari Vibra Bites because they look and even move like bloodworms as they’re sinking.
Most larger pufferfish must be fed hard, crunchy foods to grind down their ever-growing teeth, but thankfully pea puffers don’t have this problem. Therefore, if you can’t get a hold of live snails, it’s not a dealbreaker. Just make sure to feed a wide variety of frozen foods so that they get all the essential nutrients they need to live a long and healthy life.
Frozen bloodworms are a favorite food for pea puffers, but offer them a diverse assortment of foods to ensure they have a well-rounded diet.
Can Pea Puffers Live With Other Fish?
This is one of the most common questions we get about pea puffers, and it’s not an easy one to answer. Some puffers can be a little timid, but most are pretty aggressive and territorial. Think of it like owning a dog that’s prone to fighting. In most cases, any other dog or pet you bring home will probably get attacked. If they don’t, that’s great, but it might not be worth the hassle of finding your dog a roommate when you know the odds of friendship are not likely.
Therefore, if you want to keep pea puffers, buy them with the expectation of keeping them in a species-only aquarium with no other tank mates. This means that you won’t be able to add any algae eaters or clean-up crew, so you’ll have to do more tank maintenance yourself. Pea puffers can be a little messy, especially if they don’t catch every bit of food that falls in the water, so it would be beneficial to use live aquarium plants to help consume the toxic waste compounds. Ideally, a well-balanced, densely planted tank has very little algae growth, and it provides a beautiful underwater jungle for your little helicopter fish to navigate.
Are Pea Puffers Good Pets?
This oddball species is more of an intermediate level fish, so we generally don’t recommend them to first-time fish keepers. They have special dietary requirements and don’t get along with other community fish. That being said, pea puffers are very inquisitive, have unique looks and behaviors, and can even learn to recognize you as their owner. If you’re looking for an amazing water pet that can live on your desk or kitchen counter, try a pea puffer and you won’t regret it!
Pea puffers are very curious fish with excellent eyesight, so you’ll often see them carefully examining everything in their aquarium.
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Introduction
As an enthusiast and expert in the topic of pea puffers, I can provide you with comprehensive information about these fascinating creatures. I have a deep understanding of their characteristics, care requirements, and behavior. Let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.
What Is a Pea Puffer?
The pea puffer, scientifically known as Carinotetraodon travancoricus, is the smallest pufferfish species in the world. It originates from freshwater environments in the southwestern tip of India. These tiny puffers grow to only one inch in length and possess unique features such as independently moving eyes and the ability to inflate like a water balloon. They are often sold for prices ranging from $3 to $15 at local fish stores. It's important to choose a healthy fish with a nicely rounded belly when selecting a pet puffer. Additionally, inquire about the type of food the puffers are fed at the store, as they can be picky eaters.
Do Pea Puffers Puff Up?
Yes, pea puffers have the ability to puff up as a defensive mechanism or for practice. This behavior is relatively rare but can be observed. Pufferfish inflate themselves by sucking in water, which increases their size and deters potential predators. However, it's crucial not to deliberately stress out your pet puffer to make it inflate. Instead, you can find pictures and videos online to see what it looks like. When moving or transporting your pea puffer, it's best to use a cup or small container to keep the fish submerged in water at all times and prevent accidental air intake .
How Many Pea Puffers Can You Have in a 10-Gallon Tank?
Pea puffers can be territorial, so it's generally recommended to keep only one puffer in a five-gallon aquarium. If you wish to keep multiple puffers, the general rule of thumb is to provide five gallons of water for the first puffer and three gallons of water for each additional puffer. For example, a 10-gallon tank can accommodate three puffers, while a 20-gallon tank can house six to seven puffers. However, the success of keeping multiple puffers depends on the setup and environment of the tank. A densely planted aquarium with ample hiding spots can help reduce aggression among puffers. It's also beneficial to maintain a ratio of one male for every two to three females, although sexing juvenile puffers can be challenging.
How Do You Tell the Difference Between a Male and Female Pea Puffer?
Distinguishing between male and female pea puffers can be a bit tricky. Males typically have deeper coloration and may display a stripe or dot on their belly. They also tend to have a slimmer body shape and exhibit more aggressive behavior. Females, on the other hand, have a yellow belly and are generally plumper in shape. Observing these physical characteristics can help determine the sex of your pea puffers.
Do Pea Puffers Need a Heater?
Pea puffers thrive in stable tropical temperatures ranging from 74 to 82°F. If your room temperature falls below this range or fluctuates significantly, it's recommended to use an aquarium heater to maintain the appropriate temperature. The size of the heater depends on the volume of water in your tank. It's also important to keep the pH levels stable, with a range between 6.5 and 8.4. However, a pH range of 7.2 to 7.5 is considered ideal. Using a gentle filter with a slower flow rate is advisable since pea puffers are not fast swimmers .
What Do Pea Puffers Eat?
Pea puffers are carnivorous and thrive on a diet of frozen and live foods. Frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp are excellent choices. They can also be fed live foods like small pest snails or blackworms. While dry foods are typically not preferred by pea puffers, some have had success with Hikari Vibra Bites, as they resemble bloodworms in appearance and movement. It's important to provide a varied diet to ensure they receive all the essential nutrients for a healthy life. Pea puffers do not face the same dental issues as larger pufferfish, so live snails are not a necessity in their diet.
Can Pea Puffers Live With Other Fish?
Pea puffers are known to be territorial and aggressive, making it challenging to keep them with other fish. It's best to keep them in a species-only aquarium without any tank mates. This means you won't be able to add algae eaters or a clean-up crew, so you'll need to perform regular tank maintenance yourself. Pea puffers can be messy eaters, and live aquarium plants can help consume toxic waste compounds. A well-balanced, densely planted tank not only aids in waste management but also provides a visually appealing environment for your pea puffers to explore.
Are Pea Puffers Good Pets?
Pea puffers are considered intermediate-level fish and may not be suitable for first-time fish keepers. They have specific dietary requirements and do not coexist well with other community fish. However, they are incredibly inquisitive, exhibit unique behaviors, and can even recognize their owners. If you're looking for an extraordinary aquatic pet that can bring joy to your desk or kitchen counter, a pea puffer might be the perfect choice. Just be prepared to meet their specialized care needs.
I hope this information provides you with a comprehensive understanding of pea puffers and their care requirements. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!
