Puffers

Explore all puffers in our database. Browse detailed care guides, compatibility information, and species data to find the perfect fish for your aquarium.

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 Fish Profiles

Abei Puffer

Pao abei

Puffers

10.5 cm Highly Aggressive

A highly intelligent, interactive, and aggressive freshwater pufferfish native to the Mekong basin. They feature an earthy base color speckled with bright orange or pale spots. As true ambush predators and molluscivores, they require hard-shelled foods like snails and crustaceans to naturally file down their ever-growing teeth. Due to their extreme territoriality and formidable bite, they are widely considered a 'wet pet' and must be kept strictly alone.

Amazon Puffer

Colomesus asellus

Puffers

8 cm Mostly Peaceful

One of the few truly freshwater, community-safe pufferfish. Native to the Amazon basin, these energetic swimmers are known for their bumblebee-like stripes and erratic swimming patterns. Unlike most puffers, they are social and prefer to be kept in groups. CRITICAL WARNING: This species has the fastest-growing teeth of any puffer. They REQUIRE a daily diet of hard-shelled foods (snails, clams, crustaceans) or they will require manual dentistry (trimming) to prevent starvation.

Arrowhead Puffer

Pao suvattii

Puffers

15 cm Highly Aggressive

A highly predatory freshwater pufferfish native to the Mekong basin. Named for its V-shaped, flattened head, it is a specialized ambush predator that buries itself in sand with only its eyes and upwards-facing mouth exposed. It is notoriously aggressive and will consume or fatally bite any tankmate, regardless of size. Must be kept strictly solitary.

Brown Puffer

Pao turgidus

Puffers

15 cm Highly Aggressive

A heavily built, strictly freshwater pufferfish native to the Mekong basin in Southeast Asia. Often sold as part of the 'Target Puffer' complex, the Brown Puffer is a notorious ambush predator. They spend much of their time lurking among plants or partially buried in the substrate waiting for prey. They are highly aggressive, strictly solitary, and possess a sharp beak capable of crushing snails and fatally injuring tank mates.

Ceylon Puffer (Brackish)

Dichotomyctere fluviatilis

Puffers

17 cm Aggressive

The Ceylon Puffer (often sold as the Topaz Puffer) is a highly interactive but aggressive brackish water species. Like many puffers, they require hard, crunchy foods (like snails and crabs) to keep their continuously growing teeth ground down. Often falsely sold as freshwater fish, they strictly require brackish water, with adults thriving in high-end brackish or full marine conditions. They are notorious fin-nippers and are best kept in a species-only solitary setup.

Congo Puffer (Potato Puffer)

Tetraodon miurus

Puffers

15 cm Highly Aggressive

An ambush predator native to the Congo River basin. Affectionately known as the 'Potato Puffer' due to its lumpy, inactive appearance when buried. It requires deep, soft sand to bury itself and wait for prey. It is highly aggressive, strictly carnivorous, and must be kept solitary as it will bite or consume almost any other fish.

Dwarf Pea Puffer

Carinotetraodon travancoricus

Puffers

3 cm Aggressive

The Dwarf Pea Puffer is a tiny, fully freshwater pufferfish native to India. Despite their cute appearance, they are fierce micropredators and notorious fin-nippers. Modern husbandry standards strongly dictate they are highly social and must be kept in species-only shoals of 6 or more in heavily planted aquariums to disperse aggression and reduce stress. They require a steady diet of small snails and live/frozen foods.

Fahaka Puffer

Tetraodon lineatus

Puffers

43 cm Highly Aggressive

A massive, highly intelligent, and extremely aggressive freshwater pufferfish native to the Nile, Senegal, and Niger rivers. Often referred to as 'water dogs' due to their owner recognition and begging behavior. They are strictly solitary pets that will relentlessly attack and kill any tank mates. They require a diet of hard-shelled invertebrates to keep their ever-growing teeth trimmed.

Figure 8 Puffer (Brackish)

Dichotomyctere ocellatus

Puffers

8 cm Aggressive

A small, highly intelligent, and interactive pufferfish known for the distinctive figure-eight pattern on its back. While often sold as freshwater fish, they strictly require a low-end brackish environment (Specific Gravity 1.005-1.008) for long-term health and a full lifespan. They are aggressive fin-nippers and strict carnivores that require hard-shelled foods (like snails) to keep their continuously growing teeth trimmed.

Green Spotted Puffer (Brackish)

Dichotomyctere nigroviridis

Puffers

15 cm Highly Aggressive

The Green Spotted Puffer is a highly intelligent but notoriously aggressive fish. While frequently (and incorrectly) sold as a freshwater species, they strictly require brackish water that increases in salinity as they mature, eventually needing high-brackish or full marine conditions as adults. They have beak-like teeth that grow continuously and must be worn down by a diet of hard-shelled foods. Best kept entirely alone.

Mbu Puffer

Tetraodon mbu

Puffers

67 cm Aggressive

The largest freshwater pufferfish in the world, originating from the Congo River. Known for their 'puppy-like' intelligence and personality, they recognize owners and interact with them. However, they grow to massive sizes and possess a beak capable of crushing hard-shelled invertebrates. Unlike many puffers, they are true freshwater fish and do not need salt. They require massive filtration and a diet of hard foods (clams, snails) to keep their teeth trimmed.