Figure Eight Puffer Breeding Guide

What is known about reproduction in the figure eight puffer (Dichotomyctere ocellatus): substrate spawning and male brood care, and why it is not bred in the hobby.

Overview

The figure eight puffer, Dichotomyctere ocellatus (long listed as Tetraodon biocellatus), is a small brackish-tolerant puffer. It is not thought to have been bred in the hobby, and only limited information about its reproduction is available.

Sexing

The species is almost impossible to sex by external means. The only difference noted is that adult females may grow larger than males.

Spawning Behavior

It is described as a substrate spawner in which the male exhibits some degree of brood care over the eggs. These observations are not based on confirmed home-aquarium breeding.

Common Challenges

The inability to sex the fish, sensitivity to water quality, a preference for solitary living and unknown spawning triggers combine to make captive reproduction effectively unachievable for hobbyists at present.