TankBud

Hairy puffer

Tetraodon baileyi

FreshwaterFish

Hairy puffer (Tetraodon baileyi)
(c) M.S., some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa

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
Own kind
One per tank
Tankmates
Species tank only
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Tetraodontidae
Origin
Thailand, Laos

Overview

The hairy puffer is a solitary freshwater lurker that rests among rocks and roots, waiting to ambush prey. Its care calls for a little experience.

Did you know

The hairy puffer is the only pufferfish covered in hair-like skin growths. These growths and its lumpy, mottled shape make a resting fish almost impossible to tell apart from the algae-covered rocks and riverbed.

Caring for the hairy puffer

Give a single hairy puffer a tank of at least 26 gal (100 L), with lots of structure to hide among. It is a weak swimmer that prefers to sit in a favorite spot. Build a rocky tank with caves, crevices and wood, and a soft sand floor rather than open space.

Keep the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. It likes clean, oxygen-rich water, so pay careful attention to water quality. Though it comes from fast water, it stays tucked among the rocks, so give it gentle to moderate flow rather than a torrent.

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.

The hairy puffer is aggressive and will attack tank mates and other puffers without hesitation. Keep it alone, one per tank. Aquarium breeding is undocumented.

Good to know

The hairy puffer is a member of the family Tetraodontidae and is now often placed in the genus Pao. The small skin outgrowths over its head and body are called cirri, and they look like frayed threads. The cirri are more pronounced in young fish and fade with age. Like all puffers, it has fused, beak-like teeth and can inflate.

In the wild

The hairy puffer lives in the Mekong and its larger tributaries in Thailand and Laos. It hides among rocks and crevices in flowing, rocky stretches, including rapids. It is a pure freshwater fish.

Common questions

What size tank does a hairy puffer need?

A hairy puffer needs at least 26 gal (100 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a hairy puffer need?

A hairy puffer is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a hairy puffer eat?

A hairy puffer eats meaty foods such as snails, mussel, prawn and earthworms, and snails are a favorite. Hard-shelled items keep its beak worn down.

How big does a hairy puffer get?

An adult hairy puffer reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).

Related species