Dwarf puffer

Behaviour and habits

The dwarf puffer is the smallest pufferfish in the hobby, a tiny, intelligent oddball that hovers, explores and watches its keeper with real curiosity. It is not a community fish, however: it will nip the fins of tankmates and make a meal of snails and shrimp, and its beak needs hard food to wear down. Best kept alone or as a single male with females in a well-planted nano tank, it is one of the most characterful small fish you can keep.

What to feed, and how often

A carnivore that needs hard-shelled food — snails, bloodworm, brineshrimp and the odd small prawn — to keep its ever-growing beak worn down. Feed once or twice a day, and make sure it gets hard-shelled prey regularly, or its teeth overgrow and it cannot feed.

Water changes and maintenance

Change about 25% weekly in a well-filtered tank, matched closely. It is a messy little predator, so keep the water clean and provide plenty of plants and cover.

Care and how easy it is

Not a community fish: it nips fins and eats shrimp and snails, and it needs hard food for its beak. Best alone or as a small harem in a planted nano tank.

Common health problems

Prone to overgrown beak and to internal parasites; sensitive to poor water.

If it gets sick

Provide hard-shelled food for the beak, keep the water clean, and quarantine and deworm new stock.