Pea Puffer Overview

Scientific Name: Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Origin: Southwest India, freshwater streams and rivers
Adult Size: Up to 3 cm (around 1.2 inches)
Temperament: Semi-aggressive, curious
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Tank Size: 40L+
Temperature: 24–28°C

Pea Puffers, also known as Dwarf Puffers, are tiny but fascinating freshwater fish. Known for their bright eyes, expressive faces, and bold personalities, they are active and inquisitive. Due to their small size but semi-aggressive nature, they are best kept in carefully planned aquariums. Pea Puffers are suitable for intermediate aquarists familiar with maintaining stable water conditions.

Aquarium Requirements for Pea Puffer

Pea Puffers thrive in well-maintained freshwater tanks with stable parameters and plenty of enrichment.

Typical aquarium conditions include:

  • Tank Size: 40 litres or larger recommended

  • Temperature: 24–28°C

  • pH Range: 6.5 – 7.5

  • Filtration: Gentle filtration to avoid strong currents

  • Aquarium Type: Heavily planted or aquascaped tanks with hiding spots and caves

They prefer clean, well-oxygenated water, and frequent monitoring of water quality is important to prevent stress and illness.

Feeding

Pea Puffers are carnivorous and require a protein-rich diet:

  • Live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp

  • Occasional snails or small crustaceans to satisfy natural foraging behaviour

  • Avoid overfeeding to maintain water quality

Feed small portions 1–2 times daily, as overfeeding can quickly degrade water conditions.

 

Behaviour and Tank Mates

Pea Puffers are curious and bold, but can be territorial, especially in smaller tanks.

  • Temperament: Semi-aggressive, best observed in single-species tanks or carefully monitored community setups

  • Tank mates: Small, non-aggressive fish or peaceful invertebrates; avoid slow-moving or long-finned species

  • Social behaviour: Individual personalities shine; some puffers may be dominant over others

Due to their territorial nature, it’s important to provide hiding spaces and visual barriers within the tank.

Setting Up a Pea Puffer Aquarium

To keep Pea Puffers happy and healthy:

    • Use a tank of 40L or larger, ideally with multiple hiding spots

    • Include dense plants, rocks, and caves for exploration and security

    • Maintain stable water parameters with regular testing and partial water changes

    • Use gentle filtration to ensure adequate water quality without strong currents

    • House cautiously if keeping multiple puffers to reduce stress and aggression

Pea Puffers at Smith’s Aquatics

At Smith’s Aquatics in Stockton-on-Tees, we regularly stock Pea Puffers, showcasing their unique personalities and markings.

Our team can help you with:

  • Choosing healthy fish

  • Planning a suitable aquarium setup

  • Selecting compatible tank mates

  • Advice on feeding and maintenance

If you are interested in keeping Pea Puffers, visit our store to speak with our aquatics team and learn more about these captivating tropical fish.