Pygmy Puffer

About

Found across the freshwater rivers and streams of Indochina, Malaysia, and Indonesia, this small puffer, Dichotomyctere ocellatus, is one of several pygmy puffers that occasionally turn up in the trade. Despite being labeled a brackish species in older references, it is actually a true freshwater fish throughout its natural range. What it lacks in size it more than makes up for in attitude. It is an active, confident predator that hunts snails and other small bottom-dwelling invertebrates with surprising efficiency. That taste for snails makes it genuinely useful for tackling pest snail outbreaks in a planted tank, but keep in mind that it may also view smaller tankmates as potential meals. The bigger behavioral challenge is aggression toward others of its own kind. Like many puffers, individuals can be territorial and nippy with conspecifics, so housing multiples requires careful planning, plenty of cover, and a watchful eye. For a keeper with some experience managing feisty small fish, it can be a rewarding long-term resident. These fish are known to live into their late single digits with good care. A varied diet that includes hard-shelled prey helps keep their ever-growing teeth worn down and the fish in good condition.