Pea Puffer care guide
Pea Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) — minimum tank 20 L, temperature 22-28 °C, pH 6.5-7.5.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Pea Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) is the smallest pufferfish in the world, reaching only about 2-3 cm in length. It is one of very few entirely freshwater puffers and displays a yellow to olive body marked with dark blotches. Each eye moves independently, giving the fish a curious, observant appearance.
Taxonomy
- Family: Tetraodontidae
- Genus: Carinotetraodon
- Scientific name: Carinotetraodon travancoricus
- Common synonyms: Dwarf Puffer, Malabar Puffer, Indian Dwarf Puffer
Habitat
Endemic to slow-moving and densely vegetated freshwater rivers, backwaters and lakes of the Western Ghats in Kerala, southwestern India. It occurs in soft, slightly acidic to neutral water amongst dense macrophyte beds.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 20 L (5.3 US gal)
- Adult size: 2-3 cm
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- GH: 4-12 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Lifespan: 4-6 years
Diet
A micro-predator that feeds on small snails, micro-crustaceans and aquatic insect larvae. In aquaria it should receive frozen bloodworm, daphnia, cyclops and live or pond-collected snails; dry foods are typically refused.
Compatibility
Best kept in a species-only tank or with very fast, short-finned dither fish. Males are territorial and chronic fin-nippers; shrimp and snails will be eaten. A 1 male to 2-3 female ratio in a 50+ L planted tank reduces aggression.
Breeding
An egg-scatterer. Spawning occurs amongst fine-leaved plants such as Java moss; eggs hatch in about 24 hours. Parents do not guard the eggs and will eat them, so plants or a separate rearing container are required.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable. Wild populations have declined due to habitat loss, water pollution and unsustainable collection for the ornamental trade.
Pea Puffer Breeding Guide
Overview
Carinotetraodon travancoricus is among the smallest pufferfishes in the world, with a maximum documented size of 3.5 cm total length; most individuals stay under 2.5 cm. It is one of the few fully freshwater puffers and spawns among dense vegetation. Peak spawning in the wild runs from May to August, and sexual maturity in the Pamba River population occurs at roughly 1.83 cm.
Sexing
Males show a clear dark line running lengthways along much of the belly and a pattern of closely arranged lines just behind the eye, along with iridescent blue eye-wrinkle markings. Sexually mature females are noticeably rounder-bodied than males. Juveniles are difficult to sex.
Breeding Setup
Because males can fight fatally, spawn in pairs or as a harem of a single male with multiple females. The spawning tank need not be large and can use gentle air-powered filtration. Dense planting is essential, ideally with fine-leaved plants such as Cabomba, Ambulia and Java or Willow Moss, which are the preferred spawning medium. Maintain a temperature toward 22-28 C and pH around 6.8-8.0, conditioning the fish on meaty frozen foods and small snails.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Courtship involves the male pursuing the female vigorously, often biting and nipping, with spawning occurring in low vegetation and simultaneous release of eggs and milt. The fish often spawn on a daily basis, and the tiny non-adhesive eggs (around 1 mm) usually yield ten or fewer per event. Eggs should be removed to a controlled rearing container.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs hatch in around 5 days, with a further 2-3 days for yolk absorption. First foods are very small motile invertebrates such as microworm, moving on to Artemia nauplii after the first week and to frozen bloodworm and larger items from about a month.
Common Challenges
Yields per spawn are small, and larger fry will prey on smaller siblings when raised together, so size grading helps. Male aggression toward other males makes a harem or pair arrangement safer than a multi-male group.