TankBud

Spotted Congo puffer

Tetraodon schoutedeni

Also known as Schoutedeni puffer, Leopard Congo puffer

FreshwaterFish

Spotted Congo puffer (Tetraodon schoutedeni)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
3.5 in
9 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Tetraodontidae
Origin
Congo basin, Pool Malebo region

Overview

The spotted Congo puffer is the well-known exception among freshwater puffers, a mostly peaceful fish you can keep in a group. It needs a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The spotted Congo puffer disappeared from the aquarium trade for decades, during long periods of instability in its home range in the Congo. Its return was a small event for puffer keepers who had only read about the friendly spotted puffer.

Caring for the spotted Congo puffer

A single spotted Congo puffer needs a tank of at least 29 gal (110 L), with more space for a group. Plant it densely, with driftwood, cover and a soft floor. It works the middle and lower water.

Keep the water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C), close to neutral at a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Give it gentle flow and very clean, well-filtered water with low nitrate.

Its beak grows for life. Feed hard-shelled foods such as snails and shrimp to keep the teeth trimmed, along with other meaty foods.

The spotted Congo puffer is unusually tolerant of its own kind and of other fish, for a puffer. Caution with tank mates still applies. If you keep several, add them at the same time and at similar sizes. Ideally keep more females than males, to spread out any friction.

Good to know

The spotted Congo puffer is a member of the pufferfish family Tetraodontidae. It wears a leopard pattern of dark spots on a pale, sometimes greenish body. It is one of the few species still held in the true genus Tetraodon, after most former members were reclassified.

In the wild

The spotted Congo puffer lives in the Congo basin around Pool Malebo. It is found in warm, weedy, gently flowing water.

Common questions

What size tank does a spotted Congo puffer need?

A spotted Congo puffer needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a spotted Congo puffer need?

A spotted Congo puffer is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a spotted Congo puffer eat?

A spotted Congo puffer eats hard-shelled foods such as snails and shrimp, along with other meaty foods. The hard shells keep its ever-growing teeth trimmed.

How big does a spotted Congo puffer get?

An adult spotted Congo puffer reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).

Related species