Figure Eight Puffer care guide
Figure Eight Puffer (Dichotomyctere ocellatus) — minimum tank 80 L, temperature 24-28 °C, pH 7-8.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Figure Eight Puffer (Dichotomyctere ocellatus) is a small pufferfish from estuaries and coastal rivers of Southeast Asia, recognised by figure-eight shaped yellow markings on a dark green dorsal surface. Unlike strictly marine puffers, the species tolerates fresh water but is healthiest in lightly brackish conditions.
Taxonomy
- Family: Tetraodontidae
- Genus: Dichotomyctere
- Scientific name: Dichotomyctere ocellatus
- Common synonyms: Eyespot Puffer
Habitat
Native to estuaries, tidal rivers and coastal brackish habitats of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Wild salinity fluctuates with tides and rainfall.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (21.1 US gal)
- Adult size: 5-8 cm
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7-8
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Lifespan: 5-15 years
Diet
A carnivore that requires hard-shelled foods to wear down its continuously growing beak. Offer snails, small shrimp and crustaceans (live or frozen), and occasional bloodworms or earthworms. Maintain salinity of around 1.005-1.010 specific gravity for best long-term health.
Compatibility
A semi-aggressive species best kept alone or with conspecifics in a generous aquarium with visual barriers. Not suitable for typical community tanks; avoid pairing with shrimp, snails (it will eat them) and long-finned slow species.
Breeding
Captive breeding is rare and not well documented for the species.
Figure Eight Puffer Breeding Guide
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.