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Freshwater & Brackish Puffer Care Sheet

Freshwater & Brackish Puffer Care Sheet

Updated on July 28, 2022
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Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

This care sheet covers a variety of Freshwater and Brackish Puffer species, including:  

  • Figure Eight
  • Leopard
  • Green
  • Fahaka
  • MBU
  • Congo
  • Amazon
  • Avocado
  • Indian Pea

Appearance & behavior | Characteristics | Habitat | Feeding | Care | Recommended supplies | Recommended tank mates | Common health issues

Freshwater & Brackish Puffer Fish Care

Overview 

Scientific names: Tetraodon biocellatus, nigroviridis, fluviatilis, lineatus, biocellatus, mbu and miurus. Colmesus asellus, Xenopterus naritus and Carinotetraodon travancoricus. 

The unique appearance and lovable personality of pufferfish have been captivating aquarists for decades. Puffers, also known as blowfish, are well known for their ability to inflate their body by ingesting water or air to evade predators. Most pufferfish contain a toxic substance, called tetrodotoxin, that makes them foul tasting and potentially deadly to predators. Freshwater puffers are found in river systems throughout the Amazon basin, Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, India and Bangladesh. Including marine puffers, there are approximately 150 species of puffers, but fewer than 40 species reside in freshwater or brackish environments. Puffers have four teeth that come together to form a beak-like shape. This is an intelligent species that has been known to visually identify their human friends. 

Typical appearance and behavior 

  • Will ingest water or air to expand their body when threatened 
  • Known fin nippers (can be aggressive)
  • Will spit water to help uncover prey buried in the substrate
  • Mouth contains four teeth that fuse together, forming a beak-like shape
  • Has the ability to move each eye independently
  • Poor swimmers

Characteristics

Care Difficulty Ranges from intermediate to advanced, depending on species
Average Life Span Up to 3 to 10+ years when properly cared for, depending on species
Average Adult Size 1–20+ inches long, depending on species
Diet Omnivore
Minimum Habitat Size 5+ gallons
Water Temperature 74–80°F

Habitat 

Habitat size

Keep in an appropriately sized aquarium for the species selected, which can range from five gallons for a smaller species, like the Indian pea puffer, to a much larger aquarium for larger species. 

Building your habitat

  • Water health 
    • Provide proper filtration to ensure optimal water quality to help maintain health; low to strong water circulation should be provided to mimic the water currents and high oxygen levels found in the freshwater and brackish puffers’ natural habitat, depending on species
    • Stable water quality (pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) and water temperature are critical to the health of aquatic life; if you are unsure of your water quality, bring a sample to Petco for free testing
    • An aquatic heater should be utilized to stabilize water temperature, ensuring it does not fluctuate more than two degrees in either direction in a 24-hour period
    • Some freshwater puffers will benefit from the addition of freshwater salt to the aquarium. The specific gravity should be kept at 1.001-1.002; do not allow specific gravity to fluctuate more than 0.001 in either direction in a 24-hour period. Species, like the green and figure eight puffer require a brackish environment, with a higher specific gravity, as they mature. Always research specific species needs prior to purchase
  • Décor
    • Provide plenty of space for swimming, as well as plants, rocks or décor for hiding places

Feeding 

A well-balanced freshwater and brackish puffer diet consists of:

  • Pellets, freeze-dried and frozen foods
  • Chopped squid, clams, shrimp and krill
  • Shelled foods, like clams and mussels, to help wear down larger puffers’ continuously growing teeth

Things to remember when feeding your puffer:

  • Feed small amounts two to three times daily, no more than your fish will eat in 1–2 minutes
  • Thaw frozen food before feeding

Freshwater and Brackish Puffer care

Maintaining great water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration is important to help keep your puffer healthy

  • Daily: Check filter, water temperature and other equipment
  • Weekly: Test water quality at least once a week
  • Weekly to monthly: Change 10–25% of the total volume of water every 2–4 weeks, or as needed; change filter media monthly

Avoid overcrowded conditions, which are a major cause of stress and disease

Where to buy freshwater and brackish puffer fish

Various puffers are available for purchase at Petco online and in-store; availability varies by location. If visiting your local Petco Pet Care Center location, please call ahead to check availability.

Puffer supplies 

Tank mates 

Most puffers are aggressive and territorial and best kept solitary. Some species, like the pea puffer will do good with other smaller, fast swimming community species. 

Health 

Signs of a healthy fish

  • Clear eyes
  • Eats vigorously
  • Good coloration
  • Free of parasites or disease

Red flags (if you notice any of these signs, contact your local aquatic specialist or veterinarian)

  • Loss of color or appetite
  • Spots or fungus on body or mouth
  • Cloudy eyes or pop-eye
  • Listlessness
  • Labored breathing
  • Erratic swimming
  • Weight loss
  • Bloating
  • Frayed or discolored fins

 

Common health issues

Health Issue Symptoms or Causes Suggested Action
Health IssueFin rot Symptoms or CausesFrayed or disintegrating fins; the base of the fins usually reddens. Suggested ActionImprove water quality; consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment.
Health IssueCottonmouth or columnaris Symptoms or CausesCottony white growths along the body and/or gills, frayed fins and gills turn brown and necrotic in late stages; caused by bacterial infection. Symptoms or CausesQuarantine fish; improve water quality; lower aquarium temperature to 72°F to deter bacteria from growing; medicate as directed; consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment
Health IssueBacterial infections Symptoms or CausesCloudy eyes, open sores and/or reddening of the skin. Suggested ActionImprove water quality; add freshwater salt and use a commercial antibacterial remedy as directed; consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment.
Health IssueIch Symptoms or CausesWhite spots appear on fins and body; fish rubs against hard objects or swims erratically; rapid respirations. Suggested ActionQuarantine fish immediately; add freshwater salt and use commercial ich remedy as directed. Consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment.
Health IssueLymphocystis (Viral infection) Symptoms or CausesWhite dot like growths on their fins or skin. It soon clumps together to form a cauliflower-like growth on the skin, mouth, fins, and occasionally the gills Symptoms or CausesThere is no known cure for this virus. Reduce stress, perform water change to improve water quality; consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment

Notes and resources

Ask a Pet Care Center store employee about Petco's selection of products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products carry a 100% money-back guarantee.

Because all aquatic life are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as atypical mycobacterium and salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your aquatic life and/or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of diseases.

Pregnant women, children under the age of five, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physician before purchasing and/or caring for aquatic life and should consider not having aquatic life as a pet.

Go to the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/healthypets for more information about aquatic life and disease.

The information on this Care Sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you need additional information, please contact your veterinarian as appropriate.

 

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