Dwarf Puffer / Pygmy Puffer

Common name(s) Dwarf Puffer, Pygmy Puffer, Indian puffer, Gold puffer, Malabar puffer Dwarf / Pygmy Puffer fish

© Sean Evans

Scientific name Carinotetraodon travancoricus

Synonyms Tetraodon travancoricus, Monotreta travancoricus (not valid)

Size Up to 1" (2.5cm)

Origin Asia (India)

Tank setup A small species setup with some real or artificial plants for cover would be ideal.

Compatibility Despite their small size, they may nip the fins of other fish.

Temperature 24-26^oC (75-78^oF)

Water chemistry A freshwater puffer. Fairly soft to slightly hard, pH not critical if extremes are avoided.

Feeding Carnivorous: small live and frozen foods including snails, bloodworm, pieces of mussel and cockle.

Sexing There are slight differences in the markings between sexes, but available details vary, and in some cases may not represent gender differences. However, males may show a brownish line along their stomach, from the 'throat' towards the anal fin. Females are generally rounder in body shape. These differences will probably not be apparent when selecting juveniles.

Breeding Has been bred in aquaria, but few details are available.

Comments This is the smallest of the pufferfish species. At least one distinct colour variation of C. travancoricus has been described, with blue spots. It is not yet known whether this is a separate species, subspecies, or regional variant. A distinct but very similar species was described in 1999^[1] - Carinotetraodon imitator. This species has probably been imported under the same common names.

[1] Britz, R and M. Kottelat (1999) Carinotetraodon imitator, a new freshwater puffer from India (Teleostei: Tetraodontiformes). J. South Asian Nat. Hist. 4 (1): 39-47

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This website was last updated on 18th January 2008

Common name(s)	Dwarf Puffer, Pygmy Puffer, Indian puffer, Gold puffer, Malabar puffer	`© Sean Evans`
Scientific name	Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Synonyms	Tetraodon travancoricus, Monotreta travancoricus (not valid)
Size	Up to 1" (2.5cm)
Origin	Asia (India)
Tank setup	A small species setup with some real or artificial plants for cover would be ideal.
Compatibility	Despite their small size, they may nip the fins of other fish.
Temperature	24-26^oC (75-78^oF)
Water chemistry	A freshwater puffer. Fairly soft to slightly hard, pH not critical if extremes are avoided.
Feeding	Carnivorous: small live and frozen foods including snails, bloodworm, pieces of mussel and cockle.
Sexing	There are slight differences in the markings between sexes, but available details vary, and in some cases may not represent gender differences. However, males may show a brownish line along their stomach, from the 'throat' towards the anal fin. Females are generally rounder in body shape. These differences will probably not be apparent when selecting juveniles.
Breeding	Has been bred in aquaria, but few details are available.
Comments	This is the smallest of the pufferfish species. At least one distinct colour variation of C. travancoricus has been described, with blue spots. It is not yet known whether this is a separate species, subspecies, or regional variant. A distinct but very similar species was described in 1999^[1] - Carinotetraodon imitator. This species has probably been imported under the same common names.