Hairy Puffer

Tetraodon baileyi

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 5.5 in (14 cm)
Minimum tank: 26 gal (100 L)
Temperament: Aggressive
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Very rare
Origin: Thailand, Laos
Family: Tetraodontidae

Overview

The hairy puffer is an aggressive, solitary lurker that rests among rocks and roots waiting to ambush prey, so it must be kept alone. It will attack tankmates and other puffers without hesitation. It is not a strong swimmer, preferring to sit in a favorite spot, so give it plenty of caves, crevices, wood, and a soft sand floor rather than open space. Feed meaty foods such as snails, mussel, prawn, and earthworms, and include hard-shelled items to keep its beak worn down. Snails are a favorite. A single fish suits a tank of around 100 liters or larger with lots of structure to hide among.

In the wild

The hairy puffer lives in the Mekong and its larger tributaries in Thailand and Laos, where it hides among rocks and crevices in flowing, rocky stretches, including rapids. It is a pure freshwater fish that likes clean, oxygen-rich water. Even though it comes from fast water, it is a weak swimmer that stays tucked among the rocks, so provide gentle to moderate flow rather than a torrent. Give it a rocky, well-structured tank with caves and a soft sand base. Keep the temperature from 23 to 27 C and the pH between 6.5 and 7.5, with careful attention to water quality.

Good to know

The hairy puffer is a member of the family Tetraodontidae, now often placed in the genus Pao. Adults reach about 14 cm. Its most striking feature is a covering of small skin outgrowths, called cirri, over the head and body that look like hairs or frayed threads. These are more pronounced in young fish and fade with age. The cirri break up the fish outline and help it vanish against rock and gravel. Like all puffers it has fused, beak-like teeth and can inflate. Aquarium breeding is undocumented.

Did you know

The hairy puffer is the only pufferfish covered in hair-like skin growths. These fine cirri sprout from its head and body and, combined with its lumpy, mottled shape, make a resting fish almost impossible to tell apart from the algae-covered rocks and riverbed it sits among.