Pea puffer favorite foods include:
- Brine shrimp
- Bloodworms
- Blackworms
- Daphnia
- Grindal worms
- Moina
- Whiteworms
- Young ramshorn snails.
Does my pea puffer have parasites?
When you are purchasing your pea puffer fish make sure you get one that has a full belly without any abnormal-looking bulges. Fish who have sunken stomachs need to be treated for internal parasites. Keep in mind that all wild caught fish, not just pea pufferfish, are prone to internal parasites.
Can pea puffers live with plecos?
a pleco can not go in a tank that small. not too much of an expert on puffers, but I heard they should be in a species only tank. No best to keep them on their own. A 5G is risky! Oh ok I was thinking that if I provided enough hiding spots it would be ok
Will pea puffers eat ghost shrimp?
Pea puffers definitely each have their own personality. You could always try a less expensive shrimp, like ghost shrimp, and see if they bother with those. If they puffers eat the ghost shrimp at least it will see like an inexpensive snack in comparison to the cherries, and if they leave them alone you can feel more confident introducing the shrimp you actually want.
Are pea puffers aggressive?
Pea puffers are very feisty and aggressive fish who have no issue fighting with other species (or each other). This is why it’s so important to give them enough space to feel comfortable and stay away from other fish. Cramming them in too close to each other is a recipe for disaster due to their territorial nature.
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. If you are feeding your pea puffers snails, don't put too many in the aquarium at a time.
What do 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.
Do pea puffers need salt?
What is this? While most Puffer Fish are brackish or saltwater fish Pea Puffers are true freshwater fish. They don't require salt and can't tolerate even brackish conditions.
What do I feed my puffer?
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.
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).
Will pea puffers eat white worms?
In captivity the dwarf puffer will usually eat small snails such as ramshorn snails, bladder snails, and Malaysian trumpet snails (MTS) as well as some frozen foods like bloodworms, and brine shrimp, although they do prefer live foods likes white worms, mosquito larvae and live blackworms.
How do you entertain a pea puffer?
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Do Pea Puffers eat their fry?
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What do Pea Puffers like?
In the aquarium Pea Puffers best thrive in heavily planted tanks that offer the fish plenty of areas to hide, with lots of visual barriers to break up large and open spaces. Pea Puffers are prey animals and they do not enjoy feeling too exposed.
Do puffer fish eat carrots?
Yes, pufferfish like to eat carrots. Pufferfish will usually eat anything, but if you want to move them off of their go-to food (bits of algae and crustaceans) and onto something new (carrots), be sure to use a red one!
Will pea puffers eat fish eggs?
The size of pea puffers does not affect their appetite—they will eat anything from small crustaceans to fish eggs. They are also known as the “cleaner” or scavengers because they feed on dead organisms.
In the Wild
Pea puffers inhabit the river systems of southern India. Specifically, the states of Kerala and Karnataka on the western coast.
Size: Smallest in the World
If you write out the pea puffer’s scientific name – Carinotetraodon travancoricus – it’ll take up more space than the fish itself.
Lifespan
On average, pea puffers live around four years. Even aquarists that provide the best water conditions, stay on top of their food quality and keep their puffers from battling each other don’t see them live much longer.
Behavior
Pea puffers are a species of fish that do equally well on their own or in proper groups.
Tank Setup
In theory, a single pea puffer CAN tolerate a 5-gallon (19 l) tank. Keep in mind, however, that smaller tanks are more difficult to keep clean. And puffers, being carnivores, produce A LOT of waste. Make sure you’re up to the task.
Pea Puffers in Communities
Despite their small size, pea puffers can get aggressive over their territory.
Diet and Feeding
Pea puffers fall into the category of strict carnivores. Luckily, unlike other puffer species, you don’t have to do any crazy tooth care so long as you feed them well.
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.
Do Pea Puffers Puff Up?
Yes. It is rare, but you may catch your pufferfish in act of puffing up as a defensive mechanism or just for practice. Pufferfish puff up by sucking in water to increase their size and discourage would-be predators. If let alone, it will shrink back down to its normal shape in due time.
How Many Pea Puffers Can You Have in a 10-Gallon Tank?
Given how territorial pea puffers can be, many people have a lot of success keeping just one pea puffer in a five-gallon aquarium by itself. If you want to keep more than one, the general rule of thumb is to provide five gallons of water for the first puffer and three gallons of water for each additional puffer.
How Do You Tell the Difference Between a Male and Female Pea Puffer?
It can be a little tricky, but males tend to have deeper coloration with a stripe or dot on their belly. Their bodies are on the slenderer side, and they exhibit more aggressive behavior in general. 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 Do Pea Puffers 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.
Can Pea Puffers Live With Other Fish?
This is one of the most common questions we get about pea puffers, and it’s not an easy one to answer. Some puffers can be a little timid, but most are pretty aggressive and territorial. Think of it like owning a dog that’s prone to fighting. In most cases, any other dog or pet you bring home will probably get attacked.
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.
Pea Puffer
The pea pufferfish is a small, round fish that typically has two color variations— black and white. The smaller black variety often features a yellow stripe running down its back.
What do pea puffers eat?
Pea puffers, like many other fish species, are omnivores. Pea puffer will eat a wide range of live and dead foods. 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.
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.
Do Pea Puffers eat frozen food?
Pea puffers will generally eat frozen food. However, it should be noted that they prefer live foods to the dead ones. Sometimes, a pea puffer might even refuse to eat what’s being offered because their stomach is full from eating something else earlier in the day!
Why did my pea puffer stop eating?
If you’re having a difficult time figuring out why your pea puffer fish has stopped eating, there are many potential reasons for this. 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.
What kind of snails do pea puffers eat?
Pea puffer will eat any type of snail except for the spiral ones. They like to be able to get a good grip on their food, and so these types are too slippery.
What Do Puffer Fish Eat In the Wild?
Puffer Fish are cute and funny looking with their front teeth converging together like a beak. They are omnivores that feast on:
Can I Feed My Puffer Fish Pellets or Flakes?
Puffer fish don’t want to eat pellets or flakes. They resist and remain intact with their original ways of eating in the wild. They want shellfish, snails, clams, shrimp and anything they can crunch with their durable teeth.
What Type of Foods Should I Buy My Puffer Fish?
Puffer fish can crack open shells in most cases. The larger the puffer, the bigger the live or frozen food you can try feeding them. Let’s make a list of foods to look for. Don’t forget about adding some veggies too!
Should I Feed Vegetables To My Puffer Fish?
Puffer Fish consume algae in the wild as they graze on it in small amounts. Adding too many veggies will affect their digestive systems. Some fishkeepers feel that veggies should be given only 1-2 times a week at the most.
Are Puffer Fish Fussy or Picky Eaters?
Puffer fish have personalities that display themselves when it comes to the food they wish to eat. You may notice them begging for food when they see you approach the tank.
Why Do Puffer Fish Like Shellfish?
Puffer fish need some teeth maintenance. We don’t want to bring them to the dentist so we should help them out in other ways.
Why Should I Thaw Frozen Food For Puffer Fish?
We know that puffer fish like to crunch on hard food so why can’t we just throw frozen food into the tank?
