Pea Puffer
A tiny puffer with big personality. Best in a species-focused setup or carefully planned community, with a diet that includes snails and frozen foods.
tankSize
30L (8 gal) minimum for one, larger for a group
careLevel
Intermediate
temperature
24 to 28C
temperament
Territorial
diet
Snails, frozen foods, and small live foods
lifespan
4 to 6 years
aloneOrCommunity
Species-only or carefully chosen community
weeklyMaintenance
Water changes and careful feeding cleanup
Best for
- Owners who want an interactive 'pet fish'
- People willing to provide snail-based diet options
- Heavily planted tanks with visual barriers
- Keepers who can monitor behavior closely
Not ideal for
- Typical peaceful community tanks
- Tanks with long-finned fish or shrimp
- Owners who cannot source appropriate foods
- Very small tanks without stable parameters
Temperament
- Curious and bold
- Can nip fins and harass tank mates
- Does best with plant cover and territory breaks
Daily routine
feeding: Feed small portions; offer snails and varied meaty foods.
check: Watch for aggression and ensure everyone is eating.
enrichment: Plants, caves, and line-of-sight breaks reduce conflict.
Living fit
smallHome: Possible, but requires stable routine and careful stocking.
kids: Fun to watch, but needs more advanced care.
firstTimeOwner: Better after mastering basic aquarium maintenance.
Health notes
- Overfeeding quickly fouls water; clean up uneaten food.
- Stress from aggression can cause health issues.
- Quarantine new fish and foods when possible.
Cost and time
time: Moderate daily attention to feeding and behavior.
cost: Moderate ongoing cost due to specialized diet.
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