Green Spotted Puffer (Dichotomyctere nigroviridis) Care Guide
Dichotomyctere nigroviridis is a green, black-spotted Asian puffer of coastal brackish to saltwater habitats, highly aggressive and best kept solo.
Overview
Dichotomyctere nigroviridis, the Green Spotted Puffer (formerly Tetraodon nigroviridis), typically reaches about 15 cm, with reports up to 17 cm; captive specimens often grow to around 10 cm. Its flesh contains a virulent toxin. The species is scientifically notable for having one of the smallest known vertebrate genomes, roughly 340 million base pairs, with a similar gene count to humans.
Taxonomy
- Family: Tetraodontidae
- Genus: Dichotomyctere
- Scientific name: Dichotomyctere nigroviridis
Habitat
It inhabits coastal South and Southeast Asia and survives longest in brackish to saltwater conditions. Young are found in brackish water, while adults occur in freshwater streams, rivers, flood plains and mangrove forests.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L (about 40 gal)
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5
- GH: 15-30 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
Diet
Its diet consists primarily of snails, plus other molluscs, crustaceans and some plant material, and the species may also eat scales. Hard-shelled foods help wear down its continuously growing beak.
Compatibility
A middle-water puffer whose aggressive nature limits its ability to be housed with other fish; it is best kept alone in a species tank.
Reef compatibility
This species is not reef-safe. It is a brackish-to-marine puffer that preys on snails and other invertebrates and will damage corals and mobile invertebrates, so it is unsuitable for reef aquaria.