Arrowhead Puffer

About

Found along the muddy and rocky bottoms of large rivers in the Mekong basin, Pao suvattii is a freshwater puffer, not a saltwater species despite the label, that has developed a genuinely sit-and-wait personality. This fish picks a cave or shaded corner and stays there, sometimes for hours, with bursts of activity almost exclusively tied to mealtime. That low-key lifestyle can fool new keepers into thinking something is wrong, but this is simply how the species operates in the wild, where it likely relies on ambush to catch prey rather than active pursuit. Because it is a carnivore, a varied diet of meaty foods is essential, and like most puffers its constantly growing teeth will need attention over time through hard-shelled prey items. It stays relatively compact for a puffer, which makes a mid-sized dedicated tank workable, though its temperament toward tankmates deserves serious thought before any community setup is attempted. Puffers as a group are notorious fin-nippers at best and outright predators at worst, and this species is no exception. Keeping it solo, or with only carefully chosen robust companions, is usually the sensible approach. Intermediate keepers who appreciate a quirky, low-activity fish will find it a genuinely interesting species to observe.