FishChecker

The Pea Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus), also known as Dwarf Puffer or Indian Dwarf Puffer, is an incredibly charming and charismatic freshwater fish, renowned for its inquisitive personality and adorable, almost puppy-like behavior. Originating from the Pamba River in Kerala, India, these tiny, bullet-shaped fish typically reach a maximum size of just 1 inch (2.5 cm), making them one of the smallest pufferfish species available in the aquarium hobby. They possess large, expressive eyes that can move independently, allowing them to survey their surroundings with a captivating curiosity. Their coloration ranges from a mottled green-brown to a more vibrant olive with irregular dark spots, providing excellent camouflage in a densely planted environment. Pea Puffers are intelligent and active hunters, preying on snails, small insects, and other invertebrates. While their small size makes them suitable for nano tanks (a minimum of 5 gallons for a single puffer, and 10+ gallons for a small group), their semi-aggressive and nippy nature, especially towards slow-moving or long-finned tank mates, means they are often best kept in a species-only setup or with very carefully chosen, fast-moving companions. They thrive in heavily planted aquariums with plenty of hiding spots, a soft, sandy substrate, and clean, well-filtered water with stable parameters. Regular feeding of live or frozen foods, particularly snails, is crucial for their health and to keep their ever-growing teeth in check. Their unique behaviors, from puffing up when stressed or threatened to their distinct hunting techniques, make the Pea Puffer a truly fascinating and rewarding fish for the dedicated aquarist.

Species-only. Aggressive fin-nipper. Needs snails in diet.