Humpback Puffer

Care at a glance

Overview

The humpback puffer is an aggressive, solitary ambush predator that spends long stretches lying still on the bottom, sometimes half-buried, until prey wanders too close. It should be kept alone, as anything small enough to fit in its mouth is likely to be eaten and larger fish are treated as a threat. It is a very inactive fish that may only move at feeding time, so give it a calm tank with wood, roots, and a soft floor rather than strong currents. Feed meaty foods such as snails, mussel, prawn, and earthworms, and include hard-shelled items for its teeth. A single adult suits a tank of around 120 liters or larger.

In the wild

The humpback puffer, also called the dragon puffer, comes from slow, shaded fresh waters of Southeast Asia, where it lies among submerged roots and leaf litter waiting to ambush fish. It likes still, soft, slightly acidic to neutral water and plenty of cover to lurk in. Recreate that with driftwood, roots, leaf litter, and a soft substrate, along with gentle filtration and dim light. Keep the temperature from 24 to 28 C and the pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Steady, clean water is important, since like all puffers it reacts badly to poor conditions.

Good to know

The humpback puffer is a member of the family Tetraodontidae, now often placed in the genus Pao, and was long known as Tetraodon palembangensis. Adults reach about 20 cm and have a knobbly, humped back and a mottled brown pattern that blends into wood and leaf litter. Like all true puffers it has four fused, beak-like teeth and can inflate with water when threatened. Aquarium breeding is undocumented, and nearly all specimens are wild caught.

Did you know

The humpback puffer is known for playing dead. It will lie motionless on its side on the bottom, looking like a dead fish or a fallen leaf, until a smaller fish comes to investigate, then it springs up in a sudden lunge and swallows the visitor.

Related species

• Arrowhead Puffer

  Pao suvattii

  5.9 in (15 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Congo pufferfish

  Tetraodon miurus

  5.9 in (15 cm)26 gal (100 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Hairy Puffer

  Tetraodon baileyi

  5.5 in (14 cm)26 gal (100 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Ceylon puffer

  Dichotomyctere fluviatilis

  6.7 in (17 cm)34 gal (130 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Green spotted puffer

  Dichotomyctere nigroviridis

  5.9 in (15 cm)32 gal (120 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Golden puffer

  Auriglobus modestus

  4.3 in (11 cm)22 gal (85 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)