Freshwater puffers are found in river systems throughout Southeast Asia, parts of India and Bangladesh, the Amazon basin in South America, and the Congo, Nile and other rivers in Africa
. The Gold-ringed or Mbu Puffer is even found in Lake Tanganyika!
Where can I find freshwater puffer fish?
Are freshwater puffer poisonous?
Not all species of puffers are poisonous
, and those that produce this venom don’t do it directly. They do it by gathering bacteria from their diet in the wild that create tetrodotoxin. However, puffers in the aquarium are toxin-free because they don’t have such foods.
Is puffer fish freshwater or saltwater?
The majority of them are
marine-water fishes
(read: require a salt water aquarium). However, she said that there are 40 types of puffer fish found in brackish waters (a mix of salt and fresh water), and 29 species are found in freshwater. Pufferfish can vary from two inches to up to several feet in length.
Can you put 2 puffer fish together?
Often, multiples of the two species can be kept together as well
. As a reminder, for this to work well, the tank must be well decorated, with plenty of hiding places and lots of space. For these larger Puffers, they need at least 30 gallons per Puffer.
How many types of freshwater puffer fish are there?
Some species move back and forth between different environments on a regular basis. Of the
approximately 150
known species of puffer fish, fewer than 30 are considered strictly freshwater, and they are the focus of this care guide.
Can I own a puffer fish?
In contrast to more common pet fish, puffer fish require very good water quality, a lot of aquarium space, and a good diet.
They’re definitely not starter pets
. You’ll need to remain with your puffer fish often, as it requires feeding once a day, and possibly more if it is kept around other fish.
Can puffer fish live with bettas?
The quick answer to this question is
no, Betta fish can not live with Dwarf Pufferfish
. Dwarf Pufferfish are far too aggressive and will almost certainly nip at the Bettas fins.
How big do Congo puffers get?
The Congo puffer or potato puffer (Tetraodon miurus) is a freshwater pufferfish found in areas of the Congo River in Africa, including rapids. Tetraodon miurus can grow to an approximate length of
15 cm
.
Can you touch a freshwater puffer fish?
Poison spikes: One of the adaptations that helps the pufferfish survive is the ability to produce a poison known as tetraodotoxin. This toxin is secreted across their body, making
puffers dangerous to touch
and even more dangerous to consume.
Are Pea Puffers toxic?
When you think of a Pufferfish you probably think of a spiny saltwater fish that blows up like a balloon. However, the Pea Puffer is a rare freshwater Pufferfish. They can still puff up however
they are not poisonous
like their saltwater cousins. Just one look at these fish and you will see why they are so popular.
What fish go well with puffers?
Some tank mates to consider for your Pea Puffers are
Neon Tetras, Kuhli Loaches, some Danios, and adult Cherry Shrimp
. These tank mates should be able to get out of the way of the Pea Puffer, and also not stress out or injure them.
Are pea puffers freshwater?
Carinotetraodon travancoricus – also known as the pea puffer, Indian dwarf puffer, Malabar puffer, and pygmy puffer – is the smallest pufferfish in the world and comes from
fully freshwater environments in the southwestern tip of India
.
Can puffer fish bite?
Not venomous, mind you,
they don’t bite or sting
. But their bodies harbor a toxin up to 1,200 times more lethal than cyanide. Each year, dozens of adventurous human diners (and an untold number of underwater gourmands) are stricken with puffer fish poisoning.
Do freshwater puffer fish puff up?
We are all familiar with puffer fish and what they are able to do.
They have the ability to inflate their body 2-3 times their normal size
. It is true they may look like a cute prickly little ball, but it is very costly to them. Puffers inflate themselves as a defense when they feel threatened or scared.
Can I keep one pea puffer?
3 to 5 gallons is a good minimum if you intend to keep a single Puffer
. However they are a social species and do better in groups of at least 3. A trio of Pea Puffers can comfortably fit in a 5 gallon tank as well so long as they are the only inhabitants.
Will Pea Puffers overeat?
Re: Feeding questions for pea puffers
Yes, it is possible to overfeed them
– and from what you’ve posted, you might be doing it. It’s typical for puffers to eat until they burst, if allowed to, so don’t expect them to push away their plate after a few bites and say, “No more, thanks – I’m full.”
The Pea Puffer, unlike most other species of freshwater pufferfish (with only a couple of exceptions), is
a very social species
and is naturally found within large shoals.
How big do porcupine puffers get?
The porcupine puffer fish is not a small species. They can reach a size of
20”
.
What is the biggest puffer fish?
| Mbu pufferfish | Genus: Tetraodon | Species: T. mbu | Binomial name | Tetraodon mbu Boulenger, 1899 |
|---|
Are puffers reef safe?
Although dwarves,
no puffers are truly reef safe
in that they are capable of eating shrimp, crabs and snails, but they should be largely coral safe. Feed either puffer on Artemia, Krill, Mysis, cockle and mussel.
Are freshwater puffer fish hard to take care of?
You can imagine,
it is very difficult to pair freshwater puffer fish
, as they can’t have any tank mates, not even from their species. They can be aggressive and territorial, so not exactly what you would call ideal conditions for breeding. Even if you manage to find a suited pair, it isn’t easy to raise the fry.
Do puffer fish like to be pet?
“Just came up to us and wanted a little head scratch and a back massage.” For some reason,
people like to gauge how much they like an animal by how much it wants to be petted
. That’s probably the not the best measure of relatability, but this little fish would pass with flying colors.
What is the easiest fish to take care of?
- GOLDFISH. Yes, the goldfish is top on the list. …
- GUPPIES. Small and brightly colored, guppies are another favorite for beginner aquariums. …
- ZEBRA DANIOS. …
- BUSHYNOSE PLECOS. …
- NEON TETRAS. …
- MOLLIES.
Can cherry shrimp live with Pea Puffers?
They nip fins of bigger fish so a yummy shrimp would soon be eaten sooner or later. However
I’m sure some have kept pea puffers with some success with shrimps
. As discussed before the only safe fish with shrimp is the oto. Even my endlers will nip at small baby shrimps and harrass some of the juvies.
Will Pea Puffers eat snails?
Yes, Pea Puffers will eat Ramshorn Snails
, providing the snails aren’t too large. Pea Puffers don’t bite through the shell like a larger pufferfish might, instead they attack the snail’s soft foot, sucking the snail out of its shell. Pea puffers will also eat pond snails, Malaysian Trumpet Snails, and bladder snails.
Are Pea Puffers schooling fish?
Cramming them in too close to each other is a recipe for disaster due to their territorial nature. However, when given sufficient room and hiding places this species will regularly be found shoaling.
Pea puffers are also rather active
.
