Malabar Dwarf Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus)
Description
The Malabar Dwarf Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) is a small and fascinating species of freshwater pufferfish that originates from the rivers and streams of the Malabar Coast in southwestern India. Known for its vibrant green coloration and unique behavior, this puffer is one of the smallest species of pufferfish, making it a popular choice for aquarium enthusiasts. With its curious nature, round body, and the ability to puff up when threatened, the Malabar Dwarf Puffer is a captivating addition to any aquascape.
Key Features
- Scientific Name: Carinotetraodon travancoricus
- Common Name: Malabar Dwarf Puffer
- Size: Up to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm)
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive, territorial towards other puffers or similar-sized fish
- Lifespan: 4-5 years with proper care
- Diet: Carnivorous – primarily eats live or frozen foods such as daphnia, bloodworms, brine shrimp, snails, and small crustaceans.
- Appearance: Greenish-yellow body with darker spots and markings. Its small, compact size and round shape make it highly distinctive.
- Tank Level: Bottom and midwater dweller
Tank Requirements
- Tank Size: Minimum 10 gallons for a single individual or a small group
- Water Temperature: 75°F to 80°F (24°C to 27°C)
- pH Range: 7.0 to 7.5
- Water Hardness: 5-12 dGH
- Substrate: Soft sand or fine gravel is ideal, as it allows for easy movement and hunting of small invertebrates.
- Tank Setup: A heavily planted aquarium with lots of hiding spots, caves, and driftwood. Malabar Dwarf Puffers enjoy environments where they can explore and find hiding spots.
Care Tips
- Malabar Dwarf Puffers are relatively hardy but require pristine water conditions and good filtration. Regular water changes are essential to maintain optimal water quality.
- These puffers can be territorial, especially with other fish of similar size. It’s best to house them alone or with non-aggressive tank mates of a size they cannot consider prey.
- They are highly carnivorous and may hunt snails in the tank. If no natural prey is available, be sure to provide them with live or frozen foods.
- Their small size means they can be prone to bullying from larger or more active species, so they should only be kept with peaceful, non-aggressive tank mates.
Compatibility
While the Malabar Dwarf Puffer can be kept in community tanks, it’s important to select tank mates carefully. They do best with:
- Peaceful, small fish (e.g., Rasboras, Tetras)
- Invertebrates (e.g., Shrimp, Snails)
- Avoid keeping them with larger fish, aggressive species, or other puffers.
- Avoid keeping with fin-nipping or overly active species that might stress them out.
Why Choose Malabar Dwarf Puffers?
The Malabar Dwarf Puffer is a stunning and interactive species that offers both beauty and behavior to your aquarium. Its compact size, unique appearance, and curious nature make it a favorite among experienced aquarists. Though they require a bit more attention in terms of diet and tankmates, their playful antics and distinctive puffing behavior are well worth the effort.
Despite their small size, they can be quite aggressive to even fish larger than them. They can get territorial so it is best to keep them with larger peaceful and hardy fish.
**SOLD INDIVIDUALLY; 1 PEA PUFFER PER ORDER**
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Very very small
Fish arrived happy and healthy but I did not expect them to be the size of a pencil too be prepared to have them come in teeny tiny. Unfortunately I was ready for a bit larger puffer and set up the tank to receive them as such time will tell if they make it but I have high hopes. Would order again hopefully sizing is added
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Malabar Puffer
Great customer service, great communication, great people. Fish came in healthy.
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Love these guys!!
These puffers do amazingly well in my tanks. I buy a few with each purchase. They are playful and fun to watch.
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Dwarf Puffer
Fish arrived safe and sound after its cross-country flight.
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So happy!
They arrived on time and all three are alive! They all look happy and healthy. Can’t wait to get them acclimated and in their new home!
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Quick Shipment! And healthy active fish!
They notified me about possible shipping delays but still immediately shipped my puffers within the day! I received them a day later at no fault to them (even with overnight shipping) but the puffers were all alive and well!! definitely recommend this place for healthy fish and great customer service
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Pea Puffers!
I got 3, all arrived alive, all 3 are still alive. My only complaint is that my bundle is not fond of frozen food. But I don't mind feeding live blood worms and dropped a live ghost shrimp in the other day, which had completely disappeared by the morning. They've also been hunting my pest snails!
Also worth noting, everyone was out of these locally, so it was lovely to find them here! Thank you! -
Pea Puffers
Very fast shipping and quality product! Two thumbs up!
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Pea Puffers
These little guys (3) came to me happy and healthy! They are cruising around my 20 gal planted tank curious as ever.
Packaging was very well done to ensure my babies got to me in good condition.
I also received a phone call about a specific snail I ordered from them because they were out of stock, and the man was very friendly and discussed my options. I'm grateful for the prompt call instead of email to endure they got my order shipped as fast as possible.
I will only be ordering live stock from them for now on!
