Figure 8 pufferfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Tetraodontidae
Genus: Tetraodon
Species: biocellatus
Binomial name
Tetraodon biocellatus
Tirant, 1885
Scientific Name: Tetraodon biocellatus
Family: Tetraodotidae
Origin: Freshwaters of Southeast Asia
Adult Size: up to 2.5 inches (6 cm)
Social: Best kept alone
Lifespan: 5 years
Tank Level: Mid, bottom dweller
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallon
Diet: Live foods, prefers snails and shellfish
Breeding: Egglayer
Care: Intermediate
pH: 7.0 - 7.5
Hardness: 5 - 12 dGH
Temperature: 72 - 79 F (22-26 C)
Description: Very few people can resist a puffer fish once they've seen them( that would be me Sponge bob). Their expressive faces, and propeller like fins make them an interesting addition to a freshwater aquarium. Puffer fish derive their name from their ability to inflate themselves with water or air when startled (a defensive mechanism - it's harder to swallow a large fish than a small one).
Even when not startled, they have a rolly polly appearance. You can easily spot a well fed puffer by it's rounded belly. Puffers have two pairs of teeth, each of which are fused together giving it a beak-like appearance. This unusual arrangement of teeth gives it the ability to crush hard materials such as the shells of crustaceans.
Habitat/Care: Controversy exists over whether or not any puffers are actually true freshwater fish. I believe the figure eight to be one of the few that falls in that category. They originate in the freshwaters of the Southeast Asia region, and although they tolerate brackish or even full saltwater, mine have always done best in freshwater. They prefer a neutral pH and soft to moderately hard water. They require ample open space to swim, but also need places to hide.
Generally puffers are not well suited to a community tank because they tend to be aggressive. Even puffers who have previously been docile can become aggressive as they age, or if they are not well fed. I've had puffers who got along very well for long periods of time and then suddenly turned on their tankmates and chewed them to pieces. On the other hand, most owners have found figure eights more peaceful than any other puffers and some have successfully kept them in a community tank.
I currently have a figure eight puffer in a 55 gallon community tank with a wide variety of other fish. She has not bothered any of them during the past several years. In fact, she is so tame that she can be hand fed with the other fish, as you can see from the photo linked above under Related Resources. While I cannot recommend the figure eight or any puffer for a community tank because of the potential for trouble, they are a comical and interesting fish that are worth owing.
Diet: Their dietary needs are perhaps one of the more demanding aspects of keeping this fish. They will not eat flake or dried foods. Instead they must be fed live or frozen foods such as snails, shrimp, worms, daphnia, clams, and oysters. Some owners, myself included, have had success training their figure eight puffer to eat frozen foods.
Breeding: Little is known about how to breed Figure Eight puffers. If you have successfully spawned them, please write to me and share your experience.
Tetraondon biocellatus being fed Krill
Tetraondon biocellatus with over grown teeth
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