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Pea Puffer
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Tetraodontidae
📍 Kerala, Southwest India
World's smallest puffer fish at just 1 inch. Full of personality and intelligence. Fin nipper — best kept in a species-only tank or with fast, short-finned tankmates.
Care Guide
Diet
Pea puffers are carnivorous and require live or frozen small foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and small snails. Feed small portions once daily, as they have high metabolisms. Occasional quality pellets can supplement their diet, but live foods are essential for optimal health and natural hunting behavior.
Behavior
Pea puffers are highly intelligent, curious, and surprisingly aggressive despite their tiny size. They are active mid-water swimmers with distinct personalities, often recognizing their owners. They will nip fins and harass other fish, making them best kept alone or with very fast, short-finned species that can avoid their bites.
Breeding
Breeding pea puffers in captivity is difficult and rarely successful in home aquariums. They require specific water conditions, dense vegetation for egg-laying sites, and careful separation of pairs. Even when eggs are laid, fry survival rates are extremely low due to their tiny size and specific food requirements.
Tank Mates
Fast-moving algae eaters that may avoid puffer aggression, but puffers may still nip at them
Small, quick fish that can evade puffer attacks, but constant stress may occur
Fast and small enough to potentially coexist, but fin-nipping risk remains high
Large enough to avoid being eaten and can coexist if tank is large enough with hiding spots
Puffers may peck at shells but snails are generally safe; provides natural food enrichment
Common Diseases
Ich (White Spot Disease)
White spots on body and fins, lethargy, rapid breathing, flashing against objects
Raise temperature gradually to 28-29°C, perform daily water changes, use ich medication if severe; ensure good water quality
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, lethargy
Improve water quality with frequent changes, remove any sharp tank decorations, use antibacterial medication if bacterial infection is suspected
Bloating/Constipation
Swollen belly, loss of appetite, difficulty swimming, lethargy
Feed live foods and high-quality varied diet, perform water changes, fast the fish for 1-2 days, ensure proper feeding portions
Parasitic Infections
Excessive scratching, visible parasites, clamped fins, weight loss
Quarantine affected fish, use anti-parasitic medication, maintain excellent water quality, monitor tank mates closely
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