Pea Puffer
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Also known as Dwarf Pufferfish, Malabar Puffer
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
The world's smallest pufferfish, full of curiosity and personality, but it is not a community fish. It nips slow or long-finned fish and hunts snails and shrimp. Give it a heavily planted tank of its own, plenty of sight breaks, and a meaty, varied diet.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 3.3 US gal
- Footprint
- 12 x 8 in
- Temperature
- 72–82 °F
- pH
- 6.8–8
- Hardness
- 5–25 dGH
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
- Min group
- Single fish
- Lifespan
- 4–5 years
Pea Puffer tank mates and swim zone
Mid-Water
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Otocinclus macrospilus
Paracheirodon innesi
Pea Puffer often does best alone. Only try this in a larger, planted tank, and watch closely.
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Pea Puffer often does best alone. Only try this in a larger, planted tank, and watch closely.
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Pea Puffer often does best alone. Only try this in a larger, planted tank, and watch closely.
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Pea Puffer often does best alone. Only try this in a larger, planted tank, and watch closely.
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Puffers are nippy hunters, and a fish this small is an easy target.
Boraras brigittae
Pea Puffer is fast and nippy and will bully a timid little fish like Chili Rasbora.
Danio margaritatus
Pea Puffer is fast and nippy and will bully a timid little fish like Celestial Pearl Danio.
Poecilia wingei
Pea Puffer is fast and nippy and will bully a timid little fish like Endler's Livebearer.
Pea Puffer feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed live or frozen foods. Most refuse dry food entirely.
- Offer small snails often, which also help keep its teeth worn down.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Mature males show a clear dark line along the belly and often small lines behind the eye. Females are rounder with spots.
Pea Puffer care mistakes to avoid
- Plan on one as the centerpiece of the tank, and read the tank-mate lists before adding others.
- Do not keep it with slow or long-finned fish, because it nips fins.
- Expect snails and shrimp to be eaten. They are natural food.
- Add plenty of plants and sight breaks, which reduce fighting between puffers.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 3.3 US gallons.
Pea Puffer tank setup
The essentials for a small, gently filtered tank.
TankAt least 3.3 US gal (12.6 L), 30 x 20 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Pea Puffer. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Picks for Spain are still being checked. The options below are for the US, and we have not confirmed that they are sold in Spain.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 10 Gallon US
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 10 Gallon US
Why we chose these (Best 10-Gallon Fish Tank: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Pea Puffer, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Pea Puffer's temperature range.
None of our picks for Spain suits this species. The options below are for the US, and we have not confirmed that they are sold in Spain.
Tetra Crescent Kit 5 US
No heater included
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterAir-driven sponge filter
Gentle flow that small fish and long fins can handle, plus a safe home for good bacteria.
Aquarium Co-Op Coarse Sponge Filter (Small) US
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter US
Tetra Brillant Filter Spain
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 10-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 72–82 °F (22–28 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 25 W at 5 gallons, 50 W at 10. Keeps a small tank stable. Adjustable models let you set the temperature your species needs. Size up for a cold room.
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater US
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 50 W US
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater Spain
Eheim Thermocontrol e 50 Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 10-Gallon Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateAny substrate
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorFares best heavily planted, with roots and branches for cover and floating plants; broken lines of sight reduce aggression.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Pea Puffer
Stores that list it under the same scientific name as this page. Links marked as affiliate links may earn us a commission. We have not bought from them, so check each store's own terms.
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link)
We have not found a store that sells Pea Puffer under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Pea Puffer FAQ
What size tank do Pea Puffers need?
Our sourced minimum is 3.3 US gallons (12.6 liters), with a footprint of 30 x 20 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Pea Puffers should I keep?
One is fine in a tank this size. Add more only with plenty of extra room and cover.
What can live with Pea Puffers?
Good matches on our list include Otocinclus Catfish. Avoid Ember Tetra and Chili Rasbora.
How long do Pea Puffers live?
Care guides report about 4–5 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
Can I keep more than one pea puffer?
Yes, but they can be territorial and need more room. Our figure is for one fish, so add plenty of space and sight-breaking plants for a group.
Pea Puffer facts and sources
- Family
- Tetraodontidae
- Native to
- Kerala and Karnataka, India
- Adult size
- 1 in (2.5 cm)
- Temperament
- Territorial/Aggressive
- Social needs
- Solitary/Centerpiece
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Water flow
- Gentle
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Will Eat Shrimp
- Fin nipping
- High
- Vulnerable to nippers
- No
- Breeding
- Difficult in Home Tanks
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.