{"id":1635,"date":"2020-03-15T10:29:32","date_gmt":"2020-03-15T10:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquarium-fish-plants.com\/?p=1635"},"modified":"2020-03-16T11:31:21","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T11:31:21","slug":"keeping-pea-puffer-fish-in-the-aquarium-this-is-how-it-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aquarium-fish-plants.com\/keeping-pea-puffer-fish-in-the-aquarium-this-is-how-it-works","title":{"rendered":"Keeping Pea Puffer Fish in the Aquarium – This is How it Works"},"content":{"rendered":"
This small representative of the pufferfish species is a real feast for the eyes: with its large eyes and tiny fins it fascinates every observer of the aquarium. The pea puffer fish is not only pretty, but also useful thanks to its preference for snails. The droll little fellow uses his fins like propeller blades and goes hunting for the next snail.<\/p>\n
Pea pufferfish are characterful and funny fellows: their large and differently moving eyes and propeller fins can only be described as droll. In the following aquaristic guide we will show you how to keep the dwarf pufferfish in your aquarium and which fish are suitable for them.<\/p>\n
The pea pufferfish<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0(Carinotetraodon travancoricus) belongs to the order of pufferfish relatives<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0(Tetraodontiformes) and is a member of the pufferfish<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0family (Tetraodontidae). The pea puffer belongs to the real freshwater puffer fish<\/b><\/strong>. It is native to India and Sri Lanka, where it lives in wetlands with stagnant and moderately flowing waters and strong plant growth. It is also known under the names Indian Dwarf Puffers and Dwarf Puffers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The pea puffer fish has a roundish body with a high back. The basic colouring of the ornamental fish varies from light yellow to golden yellow. Numerous brown to almost black spots are irregularly distributed on the small fish body. Some of these small spots have a metallic shimmer with a turquoisehue.<\/p>\n The fins are semi-transparent and have an olive yellow tint. The dorsal and anal fins are on the same level and are set further back. Its appearance is dominated by its relatively large eyes. The dwarf puffer fish can move the eyes separately. In its relatively small mouth there are 4 teeth<\/b><\/strong>, which are constantly growing back. The pea puffer fish grows 2 to 3.5 cm in size<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0and has a life expectancy of 2 to 4 years<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Purely optically, the males and females of Carinotetraodon travancoricus are hardly distinguishable. Only when they are fully grown do the minimal differences between the sexes become clearer. In the males, the contrasting back colouring<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0is more brownish, with a yellowish belly<\/b><\/strong>. In addition, the adult male pea puffer fish has so-called “wrinkles” behind the eyes and develops a dark longitudinal belly line when<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0mature. This extends from the dorsal fin to the caudal fin.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, this line is differently pronounced and often difficult to recognize. In the females the pattern on the back is additionally interspersed with “freckles” and the belly colouring goes into the whitish<\/b><\/strong>. The colouring of the dwarf pufferfish depends on the health and state of mind. The impressing behaviour<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0of the male Carinotetraodon travancoricus is supported by an intensive and contrasting colouring.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The dwarf pufferfish is not a schooling fish, but nevertheless it should be kept in small groups – a typical group fish that needs social partners to live out its behaviour.<\/p>\n The pea-ball-fish is not only the smallest representative of the ball-fish, it is also relatively peaceful<\/b><\/strong>: Frictions exist only among the own Artgenossen. The male Carinotetraodon travancoricus\u00a0form territories and a ranking<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0is established. Fighting over territories takes place among the males of the species. It can be said that female dwarf pufferfish are merely tolerated. Rank fights with young animals are harmless and it does not degenerate into biting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To prevent such fights, the aquarium must be sufficiently large and the number of males must be limited. The animals must be given sufficient hiding places and the tank must be delimited by decorative objects so that the animals can form and defend their territories. It also makes sense to keep the animals in small groups with predominantly female animals<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0or in pairs<\/b><\/strong>. The average size of the male pea puffer fish is about 15 cm. Depending on the size of the aquarium the correct number of males can be calculated.<\/p>\n The more harmless type of collision between the male pea puffer fish is the display behaviour<\/b><\/strong>. The male dwarf pufferfish extends its belly keel. Then the broadside of the body is shown. Here you can clearly see the longitudinal abdominal line. Finally, the male puffer fish spirals up to the water surface in a circle. Arrived there either both males give up or one is driven away.<\/p>\n A socialization with lively and fast schooling fish with short fins<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0can be done without any problems. Especially with Danionin or neon tetras<\/b><\/u><\/strong><\/a>, as well as larger catfish species,<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0the socialization usually proceeds without great problems. Slower ornamental fish with long fins should not be socialized with the dwarf puffer fish, as the pea puffer fish has the habit of biting into the fins of other inhabitants<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0and eating the bitten off particles.<\/p>\n Likewise, socialisation with invertebrates is not advisable, as they are considered a source of food. Especially shrimps and snails are on the menu of the droll aquarium inhabitants. There are certainly exceptions, such as Amano shrimp,<\/u><\/a>\u00a0as these adult ones reach a size that means they have nothing to fear. The offspring are more likely to be endangered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How to breed dwarf puffer fish in the aquarium?<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n A breeding of the dwarf puffer fish in the aquarium has been successful several times. The pea puffer fish is sexually mature at the<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0age of 5 months<\/b><\/strong>. Most of the time the two sexes ignore each other, but the male chases a female across the tank in phases. After a certain period of time the female lets the male animal approach her. After successful mating the female spawns. The spawn is also gladly deposited by fine plants or javamoos. The eggs are between 1 and 1.5 mm in size. \u00a0<\/b><\/strong>After 7 to 9 days<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0the offspring hatch<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p>\nWhat do dwarf puffer fish look like?<\/i><\/b><\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Are there gender differences between dwarf puffer fish?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\n
With which fish do you associate pea puffer fish?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\n