Dwarf puffer and tetraodon schoutedeni tank mates? This is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of pea puffer care. If you plan on keeping more than one pea puffer in your tank, add an additional 5 gallons for each. So, the proper tank capacity has some average value of those mentioned above. A pufferfish can even turn on their tank mates and can chew them to pieces. Also when choosing tank mates you should consider that the fish requires brackish water. While we’re not going to get into the specifics of the disease itself, it’s not something you want to deal with. Dwarf puffer fish are endemic to Southwest India hence prefer a tropical fish tank with temperatures anywhere between 75°F and 80°F. It seems like most people recommend "any fish that it can't eat" for a tankmate. Carinotetraodon travancoricus) is the smallest fish of Tetraodon family you may encounter on sale. Their territorial and aggressive nature means you can’t simply pair them with any similarly-sized fish. Once you enter the room, the fishes start swimming near the tank glass trying to attract your attention. The pea puffer (aka dwarf pufferfish) could be one of the cutest freshwater species on the planet. Pea puffer tank mates? This process will slowly compromise the water in your tank and cause a rise in nitrate and other substances. If you want to keep a group more space is needed. You may keep puffer in a small school of 5-6 species in a thickly planted tank with lots of covers. Sometimes, this fish can be kept together with prawns, but keep in mind that despite the fish’s small mouth in the wild it feeds on different spineless species, so at least small prawns will be treated as feed. Some owners recommend using a breeding tank for the best results, but others feel this is unnecessary. You can give snails to mini puffer fish regularly, since they are its basic food in the wild and the fish uses snail’s shell to mill its teeth. If you don’t keep to this diet the fish will starve. Obviously, large fish should be avoided too since they can hurt or eat your dwarf pufferfish. It’s possibly about each fish temper and tank conditions. Choosing tank mates. Pea Puffer in Planted Tank | Source: Deposit Photos. Thanks! Pea Puffer Tank Mates. This is quite a time-consuming process. In fact, they’re one of the most popular…, Clown Loaches are one of the most popular freshwater fish in the aquarium scene. In such a tank the intraspecific aggression will lessen sufficiently, it’ll be easier for the fish to define its territory and to find a mate. Like all puffers, Dwarf Puffers should not be considered community fish and should generally be kept in a single species set-up. Finding the right pea puffer tank mates is something that many owners struggle with. Otto's are a good choice too. The safest bet is to get one dwarf pea pufferfish and keep them alone. Their bodies are rather thick and dense looking. So, if you provide the fish with proper tank conditions – clean water and good feed, it’ll be a delight for your eyes for quite a long time. Check tank mates for the Dwarf Pufferfish fish species. The best way to create a fortified diet for pea puffer is to feed it with small snails (ramshorn snails, MTS) and frozen feed. The fish inhabits in the river Pamba which comes down from the mountains and pours into Vembanad lake (which is habitat). puffers tank-mates. If you must house your pea puffers in a community tank, ensure to go for tank mates who are small and fast swimmers. It’s basically unheard of for these fish to exceed this size no matter how good their care or genetics are. The breeding fishes may eat their eggs, so you should remove the eggs from the spawning tank by means of large pipette or hose. Pea Puffer can grow up to 1.4 inches only, and it makes them the smallest member of their family. Think of plants as the highest priority item when setting up their tank for the first time! Because the fin is hard to see and these fish have that long and thin caudal peduncle, it looks like they’re swimming with nothing back there. Then add someone else. There are however a few other fish species that have been found to be respectable tank mates, please remember that even after living peacefully with tank mates for years, no fish is guaranteed safe forever. The most common disease to be aware of is Ich. While we’re not advocating that you hold off purchasing one for yourself, we recommend doing some research into the place you’re buying them from as well. They are known for exhibiting unique features. Fortunately, you can drastically reduce the chance of Ich (and many other diseases) if you take care of the water quality in your tank. Due to their decreasing numbers, we owe it to them to get this right! Learn more. Green spotted puffer (Tetraodon nigroviridis), Pea puffer, dwarf puffer fish, mini puffer fish, bb puffer, pygmy puffer, indian dwarf puffer, it’s better to keep them away from other fishes, they require clean tank water and they pollute it very fast with feed leftovers, although the fish is small, it’s aggressive. This can be placed at the bottom of the aquarium and you can use long tweezers to place the food inside to avoid getting your hands and fingers nipped. The dwarf pea puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) is a freshwater fish that’s native to the Western Ghats of Southwest India. There are very few eggs – about 10 or less. The fish has some area around its target (about 5cm in diameter) and the decision as for attacking the target is made within this area. While we’re tempted to describe the look of this fish as “adorable” and leave it at that, we’ll go into details for the sake of being thorough. There’s never a dull moment! You could keep a single fish in a tank as small as 12″ x 8″ x 8″ 30cm x 20cm x 20cm – 12.6 litres. But keep in mind that the fish doesn’t like strong water flow, so you’d better decrease it as much as possible. Sex differences. If you don’t include enough plants in your tank there’s a strong chance that these fish will experience elevated stress levels (which can impact their health). Dwarf Puffer Fish (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) pea pufferfish or pygmy pufferfish Dwarf Puffer Fish natural habitat is in Southwest India.This fish is an ideal choice for small fish tank.There are several types of puffer fish, which lives in salt water or in semi-salt. Pea puffer or dwarf puffer (lat. This will replicate the water temperature in the wild during the breeding season. The male color becomes more saturated and it means that he’s ready for spawning. The first is that you’ll need to give each fish enough room (an extra 5 gallons per fish). All these reasons make them a great choice for tank mates for dwarf gouramis. There are anomalies of course, but for the most part they’re pretty consistent. Also, if there are several females and one male – it decreases the chances that the male will haunt one of the females too severely. This accuracy will give you peace of mind and ensure that your fish are living in a healthy environment. It’s like something out of a cartoon. The pea puffer has a very unique look that led to the origin of their name. They are slightly specialised in regards to what tank mates to keep them with and diet, so research is important. A stressed dwarf puffer is likely going to take out its frustration on the shrimp tank-mates. Hi all, Are there any compatible tank mates for dwarf pea puffers? Plants like hornwort, Java moss, or even some floating aquarium plants that have dangling roots can all help these fish feel safe. Hi, I know your post was awhile back but I’m glad you posted it. Many people add Dwarf Puffers to their aquarium because of their effectiveness when it comes to eating snails, without thinking about what they’re going to do with the puffer when all the snails are gone and it starts nipping at other fish. They have to be happy in the tank first. This species is endemic to this region and is seeing a population decline due to overfishing, making it harder and harder to see them in their natural habitat. This kind of substrate is conducive to the rooting process and will help your plants grow tall (which your pea puffers will appreciate). Since it’s quite clear and modest in size, it can be hard to notice when you’re observing these fish. The second is to include plenty of plants in the aquarium so there’s room to hide. We absolutely love how these little creatures look! The courtship behaviour shows when the male starts chasing the female one and biting her if she’s still not ready. If we speak about frozen one – favorite food is blood worm, daphnia and brine shrimps. Anyone who takes the time to understand the key elements of pea puffer care will be able to raise these fish and give them a great life. Be careful when choosing tank mates. Even those fish which are docile eventually become aggressive as they get older or at times when they are not well fed. Author Note: Due to the pea puffer’s sensitivity to shifts in water parameters, it’s reasonable to assume that they might not handle subpar water quality as well as other fish. The reason for this is they’ll always feel exposed and in potential danger. Avoid wild fish. The fish comes from India and unlike the other species, it inhabits only in freshwater. Dwarf pea pufferfish are carnivorous and despite their cute appearance, they have quite a fierce appetite! Sexing Carinotetraodon revolves around colours and markings. Pea Puffer. They are known by many names, such as Mini Puffer Fish, Dwarf Pea Puffer, Pea Puffer Fish, Dwarf Pufferfish, Pygmy Pufferfish, and Malabar Pufferfish.. I have a single female dwarf puffer in ten gallon long tank. Sometimes puffers can be agressive, sometimes they can get picked on. Aquarium Source is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If you’ve been in the aquarium scene for long enough then chances are you’ve at least heard of it. The eyes move independently of each other, that allows to observe surroundings almost without moving. A lot of potential owners think that these fish are likely harmless due to their size and adorable appearance. This is why it’s so important to give them enough space to feel comfortable and stay away from other fish. So, they have three other names given by human over the years as with the external appearance and behavior. The dwarf/pea puffer fish is an unusual choice, but I’ve heard from several fishkeepers who have had good luck keeping them with neon tetras in tanks 10 gallons and up. They can be very aggressive and territorial, often nip fins, and there are reports of them killing fish larger then themselves. If you’re planning on getting this species make sure you’re committed to maintaining their habitat! It is a very popular fish with aquarist due to its beauty and relatively low maintenance. Pea puffer care requires you to have a strong understanding of the species if you want them to thrive in your tank. ... Who are the freshwater puffer fish tank mates?