Common Name: Dwarf Puffer

Other Common Names: Pea Puffer, Malabar Puffer, Pygmy Puffer

Family: Tetraodontidae

Distribution: Southwest India, Malabar, (Kerala). The freshwater river Pamba.

Water Parameters: Temp: 23 - 28C (74 -82,5 F); pH: 6.5 - 7.2

Personality/Temperament: One of the more peaceful puffers, however, may nip fins of other fish or invertabrates.

Activity: Fairly active and territorial fish. Might be kept in pairs or groups, but such housing demands a complex enviroment. The tank should be heavily planted/decorated with lots of broken eyelines.

Max. Size: 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Estimated Lifespan: 5 or more years

Sexual Dimorphism: Males generally display a dark stripe down their white belly, have eye "wrinkles", and lateral body stripes. Females and juveniles are usually spotted. View the Dwarf Puffer Sexing Article in our library for more info.

Diet: Live and frozen foods, snails, freeze dried krill, frozen shrimp, black & bloodworms- live or frozen, ghost shrimp. Feed snails once a week to prevent overgrowth of constantly growing beak

Care: Pufferfish are extremly sensitive to nitrites and ammonia and should only be introduced into a fully cycled aquarium. Due to their messy eating habits, overfiltration is recommended.

Breeding: Dwarf Puffers have been known to breed without any external stimuli from the fishkeeper. It is advised to keep 2-3 females to 1 male, to prevent harrassment.

Minimum Tank Size: 5 US gallons (20 liters)

Links to Other Resources: www.dwarfpuffers.com Library Article: Sexing Dwarf Puffer Article