Figure-8 Puffer

About

Found across the rivers and coastal waterways of Indochina, Malaysia, and Indonesia, this small but feisty puffer, Tetraodon biocellatus, is one of the more commonly encountered freshwater puffers in the hobby. And one of the more combative. Despite being labeled as a brackish species in older literature, it is actually a true freshwater fish, so skip the salt. What it lacks in size it more than makes up for in personality: this is an active, curious predator that spends its day prowling the bottom for anything edible, with snails and other invertebrates making up the bulk of its natural diet. Hard-shelled prey items are actually useful for keeping its ever-growing beak-like teeth worn down, so offering snails regularly is more than just a treat. It is genuinely good husbandry. The aggression level here is real and worth taking seriously. It will harass tankmates and is especially rough on its own kind, so careful thought goes into stocking decisions. Nippy fins are a given if slow or long-finned fish share the water. This is a species best appreciated by a keeper who has done their homework and is prepared to manage its temperament, but for the right aquarist it is endlessly entertaining.