Dwarf (Pea) Pufferfish

Temperature: 76-80
Minimum Tank Size: 5 Gallons

Pea puffers are one of the only freshwater puffer species (most others being brackish or saltwater). This tiny fish (1.4″ at most) is aggressive, and as such usually does poorly in a community aquarium. They like low-flow filters, and if you want multiple, you need a 20-gallon aquarium or larger. They are really entertaining fish that need a carnivorous diet, including snails. While keeping them solitary is the usual choice, they're actually quite social, and a group is very entertaining!

A fun fact about pea puffers is that they possess the unique ability to take in air from the surface of the water and use it as an additional source of oxygen. This allows them to stay underwater for long periods of time without having to come for a break at the surface.

The pea puffer is a small aquarium fish native to India, Bangladesh and Nepal. It is also known as the dwarf puffer, pygmy puffer, or Malabar puffer. Pea puffers grow to a maximum size of 1.5 inches and can live up to 5 years with proper care. Pea puffers are omnivores, meaning they feed on both plant and animal matter, and should be provided a diet of high-quality, balanced foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and freeze-dried daphnia. Due to their small size, they should only be kept in well-filtered aquariums that provide plenty of hiding places.

Pea puffers are also known to be intelligent and curious, making them excellent tank mates with fish of similar size and temperament. They are highly sociable and can be seen schooling together in larger groups. However, they can also become territorial and aggressive towards other fish if not provided enough space, so they should be housed in tanks at least 10 gallons or larger. Since they have intestines that are more vulnerable than other fish, they should not be exposed to sudden changes in water conditions and should only be given foods free of parasites and diseases