Red-eye Puffer care guide
Red-eye Puffer (Carinotetraodon irrubesco) — minimum tank 60 L, temperature 24-28 °C, pH 6.5-7.5.
Overview
The Red-eye Puffer (Carinotetraodon irrubesco) is a small freshwater pufferfish from Southeast Asia, growing to about 4 cm. Males display a striking red caudal fin and a dorsal crest used in courtship; females are more cryptically coloured. The species is sexually dimorphic, unusually for puffers.
Taxonomy
- Family: Tetraodontidae
- Genus: Carinotetraodon
- Scientific name: Carinotetraodon irrubesco
Habitat
Recorded from peat-swamp and slow blackwater tributaries of the Banjarmasin region of southern Borneo (Indonesia) and northern Sumatra, where it inhabits soft, acidic, tannin-stained waters over leaf litter.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L (15.9 US gal)
- Adult size: 3-4 cm
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
Diet
A micro-carnivore taking aquatic invertebrates, small snails and crustaceans. In aquaria it requires frozen or live foods — bloodworm, cyclops, mysis and small snails; pellets are typically refused. Hard food helps wear down its continuously growing beak.
Compatibility
Generally calmer than most puffers but still nips fins; best kept in a species-only tank. A single male with one or more females in a 60+ L blackwater-styled tank with dense planting works well; multiple males will fight.
Breeding
An egg-scatterer that deposits eggs amongst fine-leaved plants and moss. Captive breeding is documented but uncommon; eggs hatch in about 30 hours and fry require infusoria followed by microworms.