🐡 Pea Puffer Care Guide

1. Tank Size

Minimum: 5 gallons for 1 puffer.

Recommended: 10 gallons+ if you want 2–3 puffers (they’re territorial!).

Key: Bigger is better for multiple puffers to reduce aggression.

2. Water Parameters

Temperature: 74–82°F (23–28°C)

pH: 6.5–7.5

Hardness: 5–15 dGH

Ammonia/Nitrites: 0 ppm — they are very sensitive to bad water.

Nitrates: Keep low (<20 ppm).

3. Filtration & Flow

Filter: Yes, but gentle flow — they don’t like strong currents.

Water Changes: 30–50% every week to keep things clean.

4. Tank Setup

Substrate: Sand or smooth gravel.

Plants: Live plants are a must — think Java Fern, Anubias, Hornwort.

Hiding Spots: Caves, driftwood, dense vegetation to break line of sight.

Lighting: Moderate. Puffers love a natural day-night cycle.

5. Feeding

Diet: Strict carnivores.

Foods:

Frozen bloodworms

Brine shrimp

Snails (especially small pond snails)

Daphnia

Occasionally frozen mysis shrimp

How Often: Small meals once or twice a day.

Tip: They won't eat flakes or pellets reliably — they want live or frozen.

6. Behavior

Temperament: Curious, intelligent, but can be aggressive — especially males.

Tankmates: Ideally none. If you must, try fast fish like chili rasboras or shrimp (but shrimp may get hunted).

Best: Species-only tank!

7. Health Notes

Common Issues:

Skinny disease (internal parasites) — treat new puffers preventatively if possible.

Poor water quality leads to stress and illness.

Signs of Good Health:

Bright eyes

Round belly (but not bloated)

Curious behavior

8. Fun Facts

They recognize their owners!

They use their sharp beak to crunch snails.

They "hover" like tiny helicopters, super maneuverable.