“Pea Puffer” The Smallest Freshwater Puffer Fish

At this moment, we would like to share some fun facts about one of India’s intelligent and clever small freshwater species, commonly known as the “Pea Puffer Fish.”

This article will provide everything you need to know about them and how to care for this fascinating creature within your planted tank. As well as the best way to start breeding them, and any helpful pieces of information for you and your dwarf pufferfish.

Starting from the table of contents, it is perfect for anyone searching for a rapid overview to know if this little fish is suitable for your tank setup. Let’s see it below.

Dwarf Pea Puffer Fish Care Overview

• Care level: Intermediate
• Minimum tank size: 5-gallon
• Temperament: Territorial and aggressive
• Lifespan: 4-5 Years
• Diet: Carnivore
• Temperature: 77°F – 82°F
• pH: 6.5-8.5
• Size: 1.4 inches (3.5 cm)
• Family: Tetraodontidae
• Common Name: Pygmy Pufferfish, Dwarf Pufferfish, Dwarf Pea Puffer, Pea Puffer Fish, and Malabar Puffer Fish

Species Overview And Origin

Carinotetraodon travancoricus is their scientific name. The pea puffer also has other common names, including Pygmy Pufferfish, Dwarf Pufferfish, Dwarf Pea Puffer, Pea Puffer Fish, Indian dwarf puffer, and Malabar Puffer Fish.

These little fish are endemic to Kerala and southern Karnataka, India. They typically inhabit a wide range of rivers, estuaries, and lakes with varying water conditions. The pH range starts from 6.5-8.5, and the temperature is 77°F-92°F.

Sometimes, the pea puffer is found in the slightly brackish waters. However, never try to keep them in a home aquarium with these environments, as it will decrease their lifespan.

In the summer, their habitat commonly receives sunlight for about 12 hours. And reducing it to around 10.5 hours in the winter season. They prefer to spend a lot of time swimming in the slow-moving water streams, which are rich in vegetation. In these places, these small freshwater puffer fish do a majority of their hunting and breeding.

Unfortunately, due to overfishing, the population of these fish has been decreasing, resulting in their classification as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Therefore, it becomes difficult to find them in their natural habitat. Before purchasing one for yourself, we recommend researching the fish stores’ reputation and the methods they use to obtain these fish. Is it from captivity or not?

Generally, the pygmy puffer is sold relatively cheaply, starting at $4 in trades. You can find them on online marketplaces, but we recommend buying from local fish stores so that you can choose healthier fish options.

Dwarf Pea Puffer Fish Appearances

Like their name, these fish have a unique and adorable body form that resembles a chunky swimming pea. Based on their size, they are the tiniest species belonging to the Tetraodontidae family. So, that’s why they are also called dwarf pufferfish.

The average size of a fully mature Malabar puffer is about 1.4 inches (3.5 cm). It is clearly not too big, considering how they earned this nickname. Some individuals may grow significantly, but most develop consistently.

C. travancoricus have thick and solid-looking bodies. The middle parts of the body are thickest and slightly pointed at the mouth. As they reach the dorsal fin, their body will become significantly thinner. These parts reduce to only about half of their maximum width and remain the same size throughout to the caudal peduncle.

On the front side, they have a classic pufferfish face, featuring a pair of huge eyes and a rectangular-shaped mouth when open. These small tropical fish have tiny, modest, and translucent fins. The dorsal and pectoral fins are basically the same size.

Their primary color is yellowish-green, which elongates throughout their bodies. You will see some dark/black patches on the upper side of the body, which are of a similar size, and the space between them is relatively consistent. But, on the underside of the belly, these speckles are not present.

What Are The Differences Between Male And Female Dwarf Pufferfish?

Distinguishing both the sexes is relatively easy. The females have a lighter yellow-white belly color, while the males’ bellies are bright yellow. The males also have a dark line on their belly, but the females don’t.

Males usually exhibit a darker, golden-green appearance, whereas females tend to have a lighter, yellow-green coloration. Another feature is the presence of wrinkles around the males’ eyes. However, the dark spots on females’ bodies are tiny and random.

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Malabar Puffer Fish Behavior And Temperaments

The male freshwater pea puffer fish may become aggressive and territorial with other males. This phenomenon occasionally occurs in other species, but it’s rare. Therefore, it would be best if you gave them more space to prevent such occurrences.

Keeping a single male with more than one female is allowed. It will reduce aggression toward the male and increase reproductive behavior. In a large aquarium with sufficient hiding spaces, these small freshwater pufferfish may be found regularly shoaling.

They are a pretty active species. These fish are naturally curious and challenging to resist themself from checking out if there is something different in their tank. You will see them swimming hither and thither, exploring the tank to observe every inch of their aquarium and searching for food.

You may see them investigate some fish, aquatic plants, substrates, or even the owner. Make us never feel bored when watching this little fish. They are intelligent specimens. They will beg a snack from their keeper without feeling shy when you get associated with them.

When the pea puffer engages in aggression with another one, they sometimes circle off this one by curving their tail around them. This is a common occurrence; it’s symbolic of defense, and these spats usually occur quickly. This behavior is also present when these small freshwater fish investigate some new or unusual objects in the aquarium.

According to information from another aquarist, the Carinotetraodon travancoricus may be a fin nipper. So, do not try to keep them with some slow-swimming and long-finned freshwater fish species.

Dwarf Pea Puffer Fish Lifespan

Generally, these smallest freshwater puffer fish have a lifespan between 4-5 years. The quality of care and mix of genetics also affect their average lifespan.

If you do not serve them with the excellent quality they require, the chance to hit five years of age is impossible. If you follow our guide to caring for them, they may have lived longer and happier lives.

Are The Dwarf Pea Puffer Fish Poisonous?

The pea puffer is probably not poisonous (there is no scientific proof to date), unlike their larger fugu cousins. As we know, some blowfish species can produce toxins within their bodies, including deadly poisons.

In saltwater and some brackish pufferfish species, this poison is known as tetrodotoxin. This neurotoxin accumulates mainly in the organs, while the flesh contains only a small number of toxins. While in the freshwater species, this toxin (called saxitoxin) accumulates in the flesh parts.

The toxic contents in puffer species are highly related to their diet. The poison level fluctuates throughout the years depending on the stocks of certain food types that role as its sources. Without access to the dietary sources, the poison that is contained in the wild-caught puffer disappears with time.

To produce the toxic puffer, it needs certain bacteria and certain types of algae that develop on the shell part of certain shellfish. Based on some information, female fish may be more toxic than male fish because their ovaries may be able to store more toxins than the testes.

The pea puffer, commonly raised in captivity, is a safe species that does not produce toxins. Most breeders typically feed them conventional food, such as fish pellets or flakes, and live foods like bloodworms. As hobbyists, do not be afraid to keep them in your tank.

Dwarf Pea Puffer Housing & Tank Setup

These small freshwater puffer fish can be housed in solo, small groups, or communities. The recommended tank size for a single fish is a 5-gallon tank. The small group requires a tank size of at least 20 gallons, which can accommodate four pea pufferfish. It would be best if it contained one male and three females (harem). And, the communities recommended using a 40-gallon tank size.

If you would add more pygmy puffer, you should add an extra 5-gallon water for each. Providing them with additional spaces will give them the best habitat in the aquarium, which impacts their health and quality of life over the years.

Small gravel or rough sand is more suitable for them, but there are no specific requirements for this element. You can select any type of substrate you prefer. Ensure the substrate you choose is rich in highly concentrated nutrients.

These small freshwater fish species prefer an aquarium environment that resembles their natural habitat, characterized by abundant vegetation. Adding dense aquarium plants will make them grow better and reduce their stress level. They are also providing plenty of dissolved oxygen for your fish.

Vigorous aquatic plants are recommended, such as Cryptocoryne x willisii, Anubias species, and Java moss. Covering the water surface with floating plants, such as Salvinia natans or Azolla cristata, is also helpful. These plants offer a few shade places and help to eliminate nitrates.

Carinotetraodon travancoricus spends a significant amount of time exploring by hovering above hard surfaces rather than swimming in midwater in the wild. Deliberate, slowly move behavior, allowing them to investigate carefully every inch of the stones, woods, roots, and plants around them. Give your dwarf puffer fish this experience by putting some decorations into your tank.

They inhabit a slow water movement in their natural habitat, so keep the water flow at a low rate. It is recommended to use a filter with an adjustable water flow control.

Set the lighting to a low to medium level. Puffer fish tend not to prefer a brighter condition. Ensure that you select aquarium plants that thrive well in this environment.

Within your aquarium, the water temperature should be maintained at around 77-82°F. If the temperature in your tank is fluctuating, add a heater to stabilize it. These fish can tolerate water with a pH level between 6.5 to 8.5, but a pH level around 7.2-7.5 is ideal. Use the pH test kit to ensure it. And, the water hardness should be between 5-15 KH.

How To Care For Dwarf Pea Puffer Fish

Actually, the freshwater dwarf puffer fish is not difficult to care for if you understand this species more deeply. The crucial points are the water quality and tank requirements. If you pass these points, your fish pets will thrive better.

Performing water changes and cleaning gravel/substrate frequently is essential. Use the gravel vacuum to clean any leftover food or feces at the bottom. Adding a garlic-infused product into the aquarium will increase your fish’s immune system and encourage feeding, too.

Dwarf Pea Puffer Fish Tankmates

Based on their aggressive behavior, they would be best kept in the species tank. However, small, fast-swimming fish such as Mosquito Rasbora, Garra rufa, Glowlight Tetra, Ember Tetras, Mollies, Leopard Danio, Platies, Harlequin Rasbora, Neon Tetras, and Siamese Algae Eaters and Dwarf Otocinclus can be a good choice for their tankmates.

Avoid keeping them with any larger, aggressive fish, such as catfish, or any long-finned and slow-moving fish, like guppies and betta fish. Sometimes, this puffer gets nosy by nipping other fish’s fins.

Never place these small predators with any freshwater shrimp or any tiny aquatic snails, such as zebra nerite. If you are, they may become a delicious snack.

Dwarf Pea Puffer Fish Diet And Feeding

Although they are cute in appearance, these smallest freshwater pea puffer fish are actually carnivorous and have a pretty hefty appetite. These fish usually feed on small insects, copepods, larvae, water fleas, and microscopic algae in their natural habitat.

Within a tank, you can offer live or frozen foods, such as brine shrimp, frozen meat shrimp, bloodworms, cyclops, mosquito larvae, or snails, all of which are excellent options. The unwanted critters, like detritus worms, may also be accepted by them. A conventional food like an algae wafer is commonly not accepted by them, but individuals are unique, and sometimes they may eat it.

Feeding your puffer fish twice a day, in the morning and evening, is excellent. Do not overfeed your fish. The uneaten food will have a destructive impact on the water quality. When it begins to decay at the bottom of the tank, it typically increases the nitrate levels, which in turn stimulate the growth of algae.

You may need aquascaping tweezers to feed them safely, or use them when planting new plants, when your fish are already in the aquarium.

Breeding Dwarf Pea Puffer Fish

Breeding these smallest freshwater puffer fish in home aquaria is relatively easy. The one thing you have to do is keep the water temperature between 79°F to 80°F. It replicates the water temperature in their natural habitat during the spawning season.

Use a 5-gallon tank for the breeding place. It can accommodate one male and one female. Planting the aquarium with a dense aquatic plant is a must; adding Java moss or willow moss is incredibly well-favored. Adding some bogwood is optional. If you put it there, your tank will feel more natural and provide an excellent habitat for beneficial bacteria to grow.

The Differentiation of the mature males is that their color is brighter, while the adult female, ready to spawn, can be seen in their bodies becoming rounded as they fill with eggs.

In the courtship session, the males often chase the females around the tank until the females are ready to spawn. After that, the females lead the males to an area with plenty of plants, and mating begins.

Once the spawning session is complete, the males become more aggressive, chasing the females away. Then, you should move the female into a separate tank, and the male will take responsibility for caring for the eggs.

Eggs commonly hatch around 5 days, and the fry will start swimming freely for at least another week. Then, the male will lose his interest, and you can move him to other tanks. Feed the fry with live food such as artemia or micro worms. They usually reach 1 cm in body size after 2 months.

Raising the eggs and fry is difficult because they are prone to fungal infections, mainly in hard water. The aquarium must be clean, and the keepers should use an aquarium pipette to take out feces and uneaten food.

Common Diseases That Possible Infect The Smallest Freshwater Puffer Fish

According to all the information we find on the internet, these small freshwater pufferfish do not have a species-specific disease. So, nothing to worry about them. However, it is essential to be aware of some guidelines to prevent common illnesses that frequently affect tropical fish.

Like most other freshwater fish species, when the water temperature in the aquarium is low, it can weaken the fish’s immune system, making them prone to illnesses such as ich infection (also known as white spot disease). These conditions also occur in the pygmy puffer.

Initially, this infection may be difficult to identify. You need white spot treatments, available at local fish stores or purchased online, to conquer it.

Do Dwarf Puffers Puff Up?

The answer is “Yes,” but it rarely happens. Sometimes, when you pick up your pufferfish from the aquarium, the fish may puff up their bodies to act as a defensive mechanism. They puff up by intaking water, then their body size increases. If you put them back into the aquarium and leave them alone, they will return to their standard body shape in due time.

Please do not make them stressed by deliberately puffing them up. Love your pet as your family. When you try to move them into another tank, it is best to use a cup or small container (not a net) to keep the fish submerged in water.