Green Puffer

About

The estuarine blowfish (Tetraodon fluviatilis) is a brackish-water puffer native to coastal and riverine habitats across South and Southeast Asia, with a range stretching from India and Sri Lanka through Myanmar and Bangladesh and into Borneo, including the Mekong delta. In the wild it favors slow-moving rivers, estuaries, and shaded backwater margins, where it hunts mollusks, crustaceans, and other invertebrates, though it will also pick at plant material, detritus, and occasionally the fins and scales of other fish. That last habit hints at the temperament you should expect in the aquarium: this is an aggressive, opportunistic feeder that needs to be housed with serious care. Adults will harrass or outright attack tankmates, so most keepers either keep them solo or choose robust, fast-moving companions with similar water requirements. One useful behavioral tell is the stress response. When agitated, especially around feeding time, the belly darkens and the tail curls in that familiar puffer-style arc. Like all puffers, they are relentlessly active and will probe every corner of the tank, so providing plenty of structure and mental stimulation matters. Their flesh and organs are highly toxic, which is worth knowing if you ever need to handle one outside the water. With proper brackish conditions and a good feeding regimen of hard-shelled prey to keep their teeth worn down, these fish can live well over a decade.