Pea Puffer

The pea puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) is a true freshwater pufferfish from the rivers of Kerala in southern India, and the smallest puffer in the world. It is a stubby olive-gold fish with dark blotches, and its eyes swivel independently as it hovers in place studying the tank. Everything about it reads as a much larger fish shrunk down, including the temperament: it is curious, bold and thoroughly intolerant of company.

Aquarium care

• Reaches around 2.5 cm.
• Aggressive for its size and a determined fin nipper.
• Best kept in a species-only tank. If kept in a group, use dense planting to break sightlines.
• Needs snails to eat. Its teeth grow continuously and hard-shelled food keeps them worn down.
• Takes frozen bloodworm and other meaty frozen foods; it generally refuses flake and pellets.
• Wants a heavily planted tank with gentle flow.

A fish for someone who wants a small predator with real personality and is willing to keep it on its own. It is not community safe, it will nip long-finned fish, and it will hunt dwarf shrimp.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See more in assorted and interesting.