Spotted Congo puffer

Tetraodon schoutedeni

Also known as Schoutedeni puffer, Leopard Congo puffer

FreshwaterFish

Spotted Congo puffer (Tetraodon schoutedeni) — Momota, K., DOI, H., Obata, H., and Sakai, H. · CC0

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: Tankmates with caution
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Congo basin, Pool Malebo region
Family: Tetraodontidae

Overview

The spotted Congo puffer is the well-known peaceful exception among freshwater puffers: it can be kept in a group and is unusually tolerant of tankmates for a puffer, though caution still applies. If you keep several, add them at the same time and in similar sizes, ideally with more females than males, to spread out any friction. It works the middle and lower water. Its beak grows for life, so feed hard-shelled foods such as snails and shrimp along with other meaty foods to keep the teeth trimmed. Give it a well planted tank with cover and very clean water. A tank of around 110 liters or more suits a single fish, with more space for a group.

In the wild

This species lives in the Congo basin around Pool Malebo, in warm, weedy, gently flowing water. Recreate that with dense planting, driftwood, a soft floor, and gentle flow. Keep it warm at about 24 to 28 C and close to neutral, roughly pH 6.5 to 7.5, with clean, well-filtered water and low nitrate.

Good to know

A member of the pufferfish family Tetraodontidae, it reaches about 9 centimeters and 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. Among freshwater puffers it is unusual in being genuinely tolerant of both its own kind and other fish.

Did you know

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