
Pea puffer favorite foods include:
- Brine shrimp
- Bloodworms
- Blackworms
- Daphnia
- Grindal worms
- Moina
- Whiteworms
- Young ramshorn snails.
What do pea puffers eat in the wild?
The Pea Puffers are mainly carnivores, and in their natural habitat, they feed on small amounts of microscopic algae, larvae, insects, water fleas, and copepods. In the tank, you can add variety by adding live or frozen food. They will happily eat brine shrimp, bloodworms, small shrimps, cyclops, and snails.
How do you take care of a pea puffer fish?
When you’re keeping them at home in an aquarium, they should get a good variety of live and frozen foods to ensure they’re happy and full of the right nutrients. A Pea Puffer should be fed twice a day, morning and night, with care being taken not to overfeed them.
How often should you feed pea puffers?
Feeding pea puffers with a varied diet of live or frozen foods is best, such as the following: To keep them healthy and happy, aim to feed your pea puffers twice a day. However, avoid overfeeding them as it can cause a myriad of health and water quality issues.
What are the best plants for pea puffer fish?
Stargrass, Java Moss, Cabomba, and Anubias Nana are some of the great options of plants for Pea Puffer’s tank. These plants will oxygenate the water and help in maintaining the health of the aquarium. These will also keep your fish healthy and encourage breeding.

How often should you feed a pea puffer?
How Often Should You Feed Pea Puffers? Pea Puffers should be fed 2 to 3 times a day. Only feed them as much as they will eat within a couple of minutes. Well-fed Pea Puffers have slightly swollen abdomens.
What should I feed my dwarf puffer?
Feeding. Dwarf puffers should have a varied diet. I feed mine daily with an assortment of live foods like newly hatched brine shrimp, grindal worms, and occasionally larger worms like blackworms and whiteworms. They enjoy Daphnia and Moina, and they are able to eat adult brine shrimp if it is offered.
How long can pea puffers go without food?
Pea puffer fish can go without food for up to 10 days before they die. They are very resilient and will find ways to survive, even if it means eating what you don't want them too!
What do I feed my puffer?
What do puffer fish eat? Puffers should be fed a carnivorous diet of pellets and freeze-dried and frozen foods, along with chopped squid, clams, shrimp and krill. Larger puffers should be offered shelled foods, like mussels, to help wear down their continuously growing teeth.
What live food can I feed my pea puffer?
0:002:52What to feed Dwarf Puffer Fish - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I'm going to talk about their main diet their main diet consists of live aquarium snails bloodMoreSo I'm going to talk about their main diet their main diet consists of live aquarium snails blood worms brine shrimp anything of that matter these guys will eat.
Do pea puffers need live plants?
Yes, pea puffers need live plants. Pea puffers need a densely planted tank to thrive, otherwise, they will become stressed. Pea puffers, especially male puffers, are highly territorial. The live plants act as hiding spots for them.
Can you keep a single pea puffer?
You can keep a single pea puffer in a 5 gallon (19 liter) tank (bigger is always better, though!). If you want to have multiple puffers, it's best to provide 5 gallons per fish. So, a pair should go in a 10 gallon (39 liter), three should go in a 15 gallon (57 liter), and so on.
How big do Pea Puffers get?
0.98 inchesThe pea puffer or 'carinotetraodon travancoricus' is a species of fish famous for its tiny size of no more than 0.98 inches (25mm). Due to their small size, this species has earned several names, such as the Dwarf Puffer and Pygmy Puffer.
Can a pea puffer live alone?
3 to 5 gallons is a good minimum if you intend to keep a single Puffer. However they are a social species and do better in groups of at least 3. A trio of Pea Puffers can comfortably fit in a 5 gallon tank as well so long as they are the only inhabitants.
Can puffer fish eat anything?
In captivity, puffers will eat almost anything, so a variety of foods should be offered to allow for a healthy mix, she said. Claricoates recommends a diet consisting of foods with shells, including blue crab, mussels, clams, shrimp, live snails and bloodworms.
How long do pea puffers live?
4-5 yearsLifespan. The average pea puffer lifespan is 4-5 years. As is the case with any fish, their lifespan relies on a mix of genetics and quality of care. If you don't provide them with the quality of care they need, then the chance of them hitting 5 years of age is slim to none.
Can pea puffers eat mealworms?
Mealworms are OK in moderation. Pea puffers can be trained to eat thawed frozen bloodworms from the end of a toothpick. They will also eat thawed seafood (in small chunks).
How often should I feed my dwarf puffer?
Aim for a two a day feeding schedule. Another reason why it's bad to overfeed your pea puffer is the effect the extra food can have on water quality. Uneaten food will settle in the tank and begin to break down.
How much should I feed my dwarf puffer fish?
Dwarf puffers are skilled panhandlers, quickly learning to train their owners to feed them on demand! Feed them small amounts, two or three times per day, so they have gently rounded but not swollen abdomens. Remove uneaten food quickly to avoid problems with water quality.
How do you take care of a dwarf puffer fish?
6:219:49How to Care for Dwarf Puffer Fish - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI would go into it thinking that they are a species tank meaning you set up a tank for them youMoreI would go into it thinking that they are a species tank meaning you set up a tank for them you pretty much only keep them and you deal with it accordingly. And that means even algae eaters and stuff
What do pea puffers eat?
The Pea Puffers are mainly carnivores, and in their natural habitat, they feed on small amounts of microscopic algae, larvae, insects, water fleas, and copepods. In the tank, you can add variety by adding live or frozen food.
How big can a pea puffer fish get?
Pea Puffer can grow up to 1.4 inches only, and it makes them the smallest member of their family. They are known by many names, such as Mini Puffer Fish, Dwarf Pea Puffer, Pea Puffer Fish, Dwarf Pufferfish, Pygmy Pufferfish, and Malabar Pufferfish.
Why are pea puffers not compatible with mates?
The Pea Puffers are the small intelligent fishes who are infamous for their aggression and territorial behavior. This is the reason they are not compatible with mates in a community tank.
How many gallons of water do you need for a pea puffer?
Pea Puffers are small so that a single fish can be easily kept in the tank with a minimum capacity of 5 gall ons. Whereas, you will need a tank with a minimum capacity of 20 gallons to store one male and 3 females for breeding .
What color are pea puffers?
In contrast, the females have lighter yellowish-green coloration with a faded yellow-white belly. The belly lines and wrinkles around the eyes are not present in the female Pea Puffers.
Can you keep pea puffers in a community tank?
Small snails like Bladder Snails or Malaysian Trumpet Snails are also not safe from your Pea Puffers. So, avoid keeping them. If you want to keep them in the community tank, keep an extra tank with the same setup. It is for emergencies when you have to separate any fish for the medication and other treatments.
Where to put food in fish tank?
You can put the food inside it and hang or put it in the bottom of the tank using tweezers to avoid getting bitten by the fish.
What is the best food for pea puffers?
Frozen bloodworms are a favorite food for pea puffers, but offer them a diverse assortment of foods to ensure they have a well-rounded diet.
What Is a Pea Puffer?
Carinotetraodon travancoricus – also known as the pea puffer, Indian dwarf puffer, Malabar puffer, and pygmy puffer – is the smallest pufferfish in the world and comes from fully freshwater environments in the southwestern tip of India. Growing only to one inch long, they’re sold for anywhere from $3 to $15 at your local fish store (usually not available at pet store chains). When choosing your pet puffer, make sure to pick a healthy fish with a nicely rounded belly. It also helps to ask the fish store employees what they feed the puffers since they can be picky eaters.
How Many Pea Puffers Can You Have in a 10-Gallon Tank?
In other words, it is possible to keep three puffers in a 10-gallon tank and six to seven puffers in a 20-gallon tank, but your rate of success depends on how well you set up their environment. If the tank is mostly bare without a lot of cover, expect to see a pufferfish battle zone. If you have a lush, densely planted aquarium, you might be able to handle three puffers in a 10-gallon space.
How Do You Tell the Difference Between a Male and Female Pea Puffer?
Females, on the other hand, have a yellow belly and tend to be plumper in shape.
Do Pea Puffers Need a Heater?
They do well in stable, tropical temperatures from 74 to 82°F, so if your room temperature is below this range or tends to fluctuate a lot, you need an aquarium heater. For more information on what size heater is right for you, read our full article here.
What is the smallest pufferfish?
Care Guide for Pea Puffers – The Smallest Pufferfish in the World. Pea puffers are one of the coolest oddball species you can keep in a smaller-sized aquarium. They’re known for their helicopter-like maneuverability, independently moving eyes, and of course, ability to inflate like a tiny water balloon. In this practical care guide, we answer your ...
What do carnivores eat?
These hardcore carnivores are best fed on a diet of frozen foods (like frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp) and live foods (like little pest snails or blackworms). They typically will not take dry foods, but we’ve had good luck with Hikari Vibra Bites because they look and even move like bloodworms as they’re sinking.
What do pea puffers eat?
They can be fed any type of seafood that they cannot fit into their mouth; these include mussels, shrimp, crab pieces with shells on them (e.g., shelled crabs), fish, snails, clams. They will also eat live foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp as well as flakes and pellets that are specially designed for tropical fish aquariums .
How often should you feed pea puffers?
It is recommended that you feed a pea puffer fish at least twice-daily. This will help in keeping its digestive track running smoothly, and it may also prevent the risk of constipation or blockages from occurring.
Why did my pea puffer stop eating?
It could be because of an illness or traumatic event that the animal went through; it may also stop eating due to environmental changes like moving from one home to another.
Will pea puffer eat shrimp?
Yes, pea puffer will eat shrimp. They are omnivores and prefer live food to the dead ones but it is recommended that you feed them at least twice a day with flakes and pellets designed for tropical fish aquariums as well.
How long can pea puffers go without food?
Pea puffer fish can go without food for up to 10 days before they die. They are very resilient and will find ways to survive, even if it means eating what you don’t want them too!
How long can puffer fish live without food?
Pea puffer fish can go without food for up to 10 days before they die. They are very resilient and will find ways to survive, even if it means eating what you don’t want them too!
What is the smallest pufferfish?
The pea pufferfish is the smallest of all puffers, measuring less than four inches in length and weighing just an ounce. They are not poisonous to humans but do carry venomous spines that can cause pain or discomfort if touched carelessly. As scavengers, they will eat anything from small crustaceans to fish eggs; their small size does not limit their appetite.
What fish can you use for a pea puffer tank?
If you want to create a community tank and are adamant that your Pea Puffer takes part in it, it’s best to choose small and fast fish species like Neon Tetras, Zebra Danio, and Filament Bard. As the Pea Puffer is small and slow, it won’t be able to attack these, nor will it be at risk of the attack itself.
What is a Pea Puffer?
A Pea Puffer is a species of pufferfish known as the Carinotetraodon travancoricus and it’s commonly refered to as the Dwarf Pufferfish, Pygmy Pufferfish, Drawf Pea Puffer, and Mablaber Pufferfish.
How long do pea puffers live?
A Pea Puffer has a lifespan of around four years so if they’re cared for correctly, they last quite a while. However, you’ll need to keep them in a species only tank and make sure you have the correct ratio of male to female fish, as well as lots of green places for them to hide, or it could be carnage.
How many pea puffers can you keep in a 10 gallon tank?
The tank should have a lot of plants and be dense, with plenty of coverage and places for them to hide, allowing you to keep up to three of the fish in a 10-gallon tank. Otherwise, you’ll be seeing a lot of fighting going on between the Pea Puffers in your aquarium.
What color are pea puffers?
The male Pea Puffer will have a bright yellow belly and dark stripe, with a golden green color all over. The female has a white-yellow belly and a lighter yellow-green color, and no stripe. Both sexes sometimes feature spots across their body, but others will show no spots at all.
How big is a dwarf pufferfish?
The Dwarf Pea Puffer is compact fish species with a maximum length of around 1.4 inches, and it’s one of the smallest of all of the pufferfish family.
What temperature do pea puffers need?
To get the ideal temperature for the Pea Puffer, you’ll want to try and replicate the tropical waters they love, so anything between 74 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect.
Pea Puffer Origin
The dwarf pea puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) is a freshwater fish native to Southwest India’s Western Ghats. It is also known as the dwarf pufferfish, pea pufferfish, and pygmy pufferfish.
Appearance Of Pea Puffers
While we more often call this fish “adorable” and leave it at that, we’ll delve into more detail for the sake of thoroughness. The pea puffer has a highly distinct appearance, which contributed to the genesis of its name. These small little fish that resembles a big swimming pea!
Behavior & Temperament
One of the most generally misunderstood parts of pea puffer care is this. Because of their small size and lovely look, many potential owners believe these fish are safe.
Common Possible Diseases
There are no species-specific diseases to be concerned about with the dwarf pea puffer. Instead, you should follow the suggested rules for avoiding and detecting frequent freshwater infections.
Tank Setup For Pea Puffers
A minimum tank capacity of 10 gallons is required for Pea Puffers. Of course, they would do better in a larger tank since it would allow them to wander more freely, as they would in their native habitat. If you intend to maintain other Pea Puffers in the tank, you will need at least 5 gallons for each extra Pea Puffer you keep in your aquarium.
FAQs About Pea Puffer
Pea Puffers can be kept in a communal tank, although it can be tough. Because Pea Puffers are so little, they may be harassed or eaten by larger fish. They aren’t quick swimmers, though, so they may be unable to flee if they are attacked.
Final Thoughts About Pea Puffer
Dwarf pea puffer maintenance is a tremendously gratifying and pleasurable experience. These fish are a joy to maintain, and many owners have told us that buying this species was one of the finest decisions they’ve ever made.
