Tetraodon

The hairy puffer, Tetraodon baileyi, is a puffer from Thailand and Laos, where it inhabits rocky areas of large rivers, including whitewater. Rare in the hobby, it is covered in cirri of uncertain function and is completely scaleless. An aggressive and intolerant fish, it should be kept alone and fed snails and unshelled shellfish to keep its teeth ground down.

The figure eight puffer, Tetraodon biocellatus, is a small puffer from Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia. It lives in rivers and coastal waters, most often in freshwater but frequently in brackish conditions. Very sensitive to deteriorating water quality, it tends to live longer with a little marine salt added. It nips the fins of slow-moving or long-finned fish, and single specimens usually live longer in captivity than groups.

Fang's puffer, Tetraodon cochinchinensis, is a freshwater puffer from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. It belongs to the 'target' puffer group, whose members share a range and look very similar, and is told from them by a clear red spot towards the rear of the body. An aggressive and intolerant fish, it should be kept alone.

The green puffer, Tetraodon fluviatilis, is a widespread puffer from South and Southeast Asia, found in slow-moving rivers and estuaries. It is often confused with T. nigroviridis and T. schoutedeni but has a more slender, streamlined shape. Though often sold in freshwater, it is a true brackish species and needs a specific gravity of around 1.005 to 1.010 to survive long term.

The fahaka puffer, Tetraodon lineatus, is a large freshwater puffer from lakes and rivers across northern and West Africa, reaching 43 cm. Also known as the Nile puffer, it was previously named T. fahaka. One of the most aggressive puffers available, it learns to interact with its owner, but should be kept alone and needs no salt in its water.

The giant puffer, Tetraodon mbu, is a freshwater pufferfish from rivers and lakes in Central and East Africa, including Lake Tanganyika. Among the most aggressive puffers available, it can reach 75 cm and should be kept alone in a tank of around 240 by 90 by 90 cm. A molluscivore in nature, it needs snails and unshelled shellfish regularly to keep its continuously growing teeth worn down.

The Congo puffer, Tetraodon miurus, is a predatory puffer from large rivers in the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A true ambush predator, it spends most of its time buried in the substrate, so a deep bed of sand is essential. It will eat any fish it can fit in its mouth, takes chunks from larger ones, and is not really safe with anything else.

The green spotted puffer, Tetraodon nigroviridis, is a widespread puffer from South and Southeast Asia, found in both brackish and fresh water. It is often confused with T. fluviatilis and T. schoutedeni. Although often sold as a community fish, it nips slow-moving or long-finned tankmates and some individuals become spiteful with age.

The humpback puffer, Tetraodon palembangensis, is a predatory puffer from Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia. An ambush predator, it is very inactive and some specimens move only when food is offered, so it is seen in the trade infrequently and suits the true enthusiast. It is unsuitable for the community tank, though several can share a large tank with plenty of hiding places.

The Cross River pufferfish, Tetraodon pustulatus, is a puffer endemic to the Cross River basin of Nigeria and Cameroon. It lives in the moderately fast-flowing main channels and is assessed as endangered by the IUCN. Imports are scarce and costly. Primarily a molluscivore, it can share a tank with smaller, quick, peaceful fish, but similarly sized tankmates may be bitten.

The arrowhead puffer, Tetraodon suvattii, is a predatory puffer from Thailand and Laos, found over rocky or muddy substrates in main river channels. A true ambush predator, it spends most of its time buried in the substrate and will mimic rocks if it cannot dig in. It will eat any fish that fits in its mouth and takes chunks from larger ones, so it is best kept on its own.