Pufferfish are among the most intriguing aquatic creatures and the prized jewels of any aquarium. It’s easy to see why; these striking fish are super intelligent, interactive, and form a deep bond with their owners. In return, puffers need pristine tank conditions and a unique diet, which new hobbyists may struggle to provide. So, whether you’re new to keeping puffers or considering them for your tank, check out these essential tips for keeping pufferfish.
1. Understand Your Pufferfish
One of the first tips for keeping pufferfish is that you must learn about them to understand their nature and care requirements. Puffer care is complex and demanding, so they aren’t ideal for first-time aquarium owners. Another unique thing about puffers is that they contain a deadly toxin called tetrodotoxin. It can be fatal to tank mates but won’t affect owners, so long as you don’t eat your fish.
Pufferfish, also called blowfish, are popular because of their unique appearance and behavior. They come in many unusual shapes and colors and can puff themselves into a balloon to deter predators. However, they shouldn’t puff up in captivity because it is a response to extreme stress. Some puffers even have spines that stand erect when they blow up, making them look even more intimidating.
Puffers are considered more interactive than other fish, often swimming to the tank’s windows to greet their owners. They are a top choice among the aquarium hobbyist community because they have such vibrant personalities.
2. Choose the Right Species
There are over 120 types of blowfish, so you must choose the right species for your needs and setup. Each one has unique care requirements, and they vary in size. For example, the Mbu Pufferfish is humongous and can grow up to 22 inches long, while the tiny Dwarf Pea Puffer is just one to two inches long. You must have a lot of space to keep a large breed. Depending on the species, puffers can also live for between three and 20 years.
Here’s a list of some of the most popular puffer species for home aquariums:
- Green Spotted Pufferfish
- Figure-8 Pufferfish
- Dwarf Pufferfish
- Pea Pufferfish
- Amazon Pufferfish
- Dogface Pufferfish
3. Recreate Their Natural Habitat
Another essential care tip for keeping pufferfish is that you must recreate their natural habitat to optimize their health and well-being. Most come from rivers and prefer brackish water, but some species live in lakes, and there are saltwater types. Even though many freshwater pufferfish prefer brackish water, you don’t have to add aquarium salt to your tank.
Pufferfish are super intelligent, curious creatures and need a stimulating environment with plenty of aquarium plants, driftwood, and hiding spaces. They also love having tunnels or rock features to explore. Live rocks and plants are ideal for the pufferfish tank because they help maintain the water’s chemistry. You must also keep your tank covered with a secure lid because puffers are famous for jumping out of their tank. A soft, sandy substrate is the best choice for puffers because some spend considerable time sitting at the bottom of the tank, and gravel may be too coarse for their skin.
4. Feed Them the Correct Diet
One of the crucial care tips for keeping pufferfish is to feed them the correct diet. Puffers aren’t the easiest fish to feed because they are carnivorous, and they aren’t usually interested in flakes and pellets. Pufferfish have two upper and two lower teeth, which fuse into a beak-like structure. Their teeth constantly grow, and crustacean shells help to grind the beak down.
Pufferfish thrive on a diet of small crustaceans like brine shrimp, earthworms, krill, and tiny snails. Most owners choose frozen food because it’s more convenient, but puffers love eating live food. You can usually find live food in your local aquatic store. If you feed them frozen food, you must allow it to defrost before feeding. You should watch your puffers feed to ensure they are eating and remove leftovers to help keep the tank clean.
5. Closely Monitor Tank Parameters
Closely monitoring the tank parameters and regularly cleaning the water is crucial for the delicate puffer. Pufferfish are incredibly sensitive to water impurities and suffer if they don’t have pristine tank conditions. They need a temperature of 74 to 78 F and a pH of 7 to 7.6, and you must regularly test aquarium water for impurities.
Blowfish are messy feeders and create a lot of waste, so you must make an extra effort to keep their environment clean. You need a robust filtration system and must check and rinse the filters weekly. Ideally, you should change at least 10 percent of the water weekly, use a gravel vacuum on surfaces and regularly clean aquarium decorations.
6. Choose the Correct Tank Mates
Choosing the correct tank mates for puffers isn’t easy, and for the most part, it’s better to keep puffers in same-species tanks because they can be aggressive and territorial. Some are more aggressive than others, and the Dwarf, Red-Eye, and Golden Pufferfish are the least aggressive. You must research the compatibility of each species before adding them to community tanks. Better still, speak to a fish-keeping expert, such as a local breeder, to discover the best tank mates for your fish.
You shouldn’t mix pufferfish species – and most will live happily in a group of their own kind. You must ensure females outnumber males by around three to one and that they have ample space. An overcrowded tank will result in fish bullying.
