Pea Pufferfish

Pea pufferfish or dwarf pufferfish, as commonly called, is a freshwater species indigenous to the southwestern parts of India. One of the unique characteristics of this fish is the ability to choose its sex upon maturity. The IUCN Red List enlisted it as “Vulnerable,” primarily because of their habitat loss in the wild. Yet, their popularity as an aquarium fish has increased over the years. Its miniature size makes it one among the world’s smallest pufferfish.

 Quick Information

Scientific Name	Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Other Names	Pygmy pufferfish, dwarf pufferfish, Malabar pufferfish, Indian dwarf pea puffer
Origin	Southern Karnataka, and Kerala along the Western Ghats region
Type	Freshwater fish
Conservation Status	Vulnerable (by the IUCN)
Behavioral Characteristics	Social, intelligent and curious of their surroundings like most other puffers, but territorial, especially male-male aggression visible among them
School Size	5 – 6 (in the ratio of 2 females: 1 male)
Physical Traits	Pointed mouth, and roundish body, tapering into a thinner structure towards the posterior part of their anal and dorsal fins
Scales	They lack gill covers and scales
Colors	Yellow body with patches of black or dark green  on the side and dorsal part
Size (How big do they get)	Small; 1.4 inches (3.5 cm)
Growth Rate	Fast, reaching 3/4th – 1 inch in a year
Lifespan	3 – 4 years
Sexual Dimorphism	Present; Males: Small, with wrinkles at the back of their eyes  and a more prominent yellow coloration; Females: Bigger and rounder than the males, without wrinkles and a less pronounced yellow body
Probable Diseases	Ich, and bacterial as well as fungal infections since they lack scales
Approximate Price (How much is it for)	$ 4 – 15

Tank Setup & Care Sheet Details

Care Level	Intermediate
Tank Size	5  – 10 gallons (19 – 37.8 liters)

Water Parameters

pH Level	6.5 – 8.5
Temperature	77° to 82.4°F (25 to 28°C)
Hardness	4 – 10 dGH
Aquarium  Water Flow	Slow

Tank Ambience

Lighting	Moderate
Substrate Type	Sand, fine gravel, sufficient plants since they dwell in areas of increased vegetation in the wild, logs, and driftwood
Tank Mates	Compatible with: Small and fast swimming fish such as the ember tetra, glowlight tetra, neon tetra, mosquito rasbora, zebra danio, harlequin rasbora, filament barb, leopard danio, kuhli loach, and Siamese algae eater Incompatible with: Big, aggressive fish, as well as crustaceans like shrimps and snails, since the pea puffer considers them its food and is likely to kill them particularly the snails
Suitable Position in the Tank	Bottom

Feeding

Diet	Live or frozen food like brine shrimp, and blood worms, different snail species such as bladder snails, Malaysian trumpet snails, and ramshorn snails
Frequency	2-3 times a day

Important Things to Know For Fish Keepers

• Though they are not good jumpers, pea puffers are nervous species and might get right out of the tank if scared or anxious about anything. If you find that your dwarf pufferfish has suddenly disappeared, check the area around the tank well. On that note, attaching a firm lid to the aquarium is a mandate.
• They are known for their shy nature, and a sudden change in their living conditions could cause them to hide. For instance, an owner once mentioned his pufferfish hiding all the time after a plant it would sleep on was removed from the tank.
• Avoid stuffing the aquarium with too many fish as that could create stress and result in your pea puffer dying one after the other.
• If you notice your fish frantically surfing the glass, it may be out of boredom or want of food. Fish also exhibit this kind of behavior when afraid of their reflection. A solution to this is to guard the glasses well with tall rooted plants.

 FAQs