TankBud

Dwarf pufferfish

Carinotetraodon travancoricus

Also known as Pea puffer

FreshwaterFish

Dwarf pufferfish (Carinotetraodon travancoricus)
Chunbin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
1.4 in
3.5 cm
Minimum tank
10 gal
38 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Common
Family
Tetraodontidae
Origin
India

Overview

The dwarf pufferfish is a curious, territorial little puffer for a planted species tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Each eye of the dwarf pufferfish moves on its own, so it can watch two directions at once while it hunts. It is a sharp-eyed predator that picks off tiny snails and worms one at a time, almost as if aiming.

Caring for the dwarf pufferfish

Keep dwarf pufferfish in a small group in a tank of at least 10 gal (38 L). Plant it heavily, with plenty of cover and sightline breaks to split up territories. They hold the middle of the tank and constantly investigate their surroundings.

Give them slightly acidic to neutral water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. The dwarf pufferfish is a true freshwater puffer, unlike many relatives that need brackish water, so it needs no salt.

Feed meaty live and frozen foods such as bloodworms and small snails. The snails also help keep its growing beak worn down.

Dwarf pufferfish are mostly peaceful but can be nippy, so they usually do best in a species tank. Watch the males, which get scrappy with each other. Breeding them in the home tank is hard.

Good to know

The dwarf pufferfish is one of the smallest pufferfish, in the family Tetraodontidae. It is considered vulnerable in the wild because of habitat loss and heavy collection for the aquarium trade.

In the wild

Dwarf pufferfish come from slow, weedy fresh water in southwestern India, especially Kerala. They live in rivers, lakes and floodplains full of plants, roots and leaf litter.

From published sources

Tank mates

Aquarium Co-Op, Fishkeeping World, Fishkeeper (Maidenhead Aquatics), Seriously Fish and Dan's Fish keep the dwarf pufferfish in a tank of its own.

Common questions

What size tank does a dwarf pufferfish need?

A dwarf pufferfish needs at least 10 gal (38 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a dwarf pufferfish need?

A dwarf pufferfish is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a dwarf pufferfish eat?

A dwarf pufferfish eats meaty live and frozen foods, such as bloodworms and small snails. The snails help wear down its growing beak.

How big does a dwarf pufferfish get?

An adult dwarf pufferfish reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

Can the dwarf pufferfish live with other fish?

Aquarium Co-Op, Fishkeeping World, Fishkeeper (Maidenhead Aquatics), Seriously Fish and Dan's Fish keep the dwarf pufferfish in a tank of its own.

Related species