Pea puffer

Carinotetraodon travancoricus

A blotched dwarf puffer with demanding feeding and territorial behaviour

Irregular dark patches cover an olive-yellow body with a pale underside. Mature males tend to be slimmer and may show a dark ventral line. A freshwater species from southwestern India.

Adult length: Up to 3.5 cm
Water temperature: 23.3–27.8 °C
Lifespan: About 5 years
pH: 6.5–8.4

Native range: Asia: India.

Natural habitat: Occurs in rivers and streams.

Small size does not make it a community fish. Fin damage, missed meals and territorial chasing are real risks; eating snails does not replace feeding.

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Appearance and identification

Pea puffers have conspicuous blotches and clear tails, unlike the red-tailed male C. irrubesco. The similar C. imitator is a separate species; colour alone does not settle identification.

Social behaviour and territory

Group keeping needs cover and the ability to separate fish; adding more fish does not prevent aggression.

Compatibility limits

Plan a species aquarium. Shrimp and snails may be eaten and slow or long-finned fish may be bitten.

Space requirements

Provide plants, roots, broken sight lines and gentle flow. Make sure every fish feeds and can retreat.

Aquarium environment

Plants offer shelter but do not make a shrimp community safe or control algae.

Diet and feeding

Confirm accepted foods before buying. Offer varied, suitably sized live or frozen foods; do not assume flakes or pellets will be taken.

Sources