Identity and search names

Common name
Pea puffer
Scientific name
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Other names
Pea puffer, Dwarf pufferfish, Malabar pufferfish, Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Category
Freshwater fish
Group
Oddballs and specialist fish
Origin
Freshwater rivers and wetlands of the Western Ghats in Kerala and southern Karnataka, India
Review outcome
PASSED

Environment and housing

Environment
Freshwater
Care level
Advanced or specialist
Adult size
Usually 2.5–3.5 cm total length
Expected lifespan
About 4–6 years
Minimum housing
At least 60 L for one heavily structured individual; a carefully managed group needs substantially more space and sight breaks
Temperature
23–28 °C
pH
6.5–8.0
Hardness or minerals
Moderately soft to hard
Salinity
Freshwater
Lighting
Moderate with dense plant cover
Social structure
Do not assume tiny size makes group housing simple; manage a known sex ratio, dense territory separation and a removal plan
Placement or swimming zone
All levels, hunting around plants and hardscape
Temperament
Territorial specialist predator that may attack conspecifics, fins, shrimp and snails
Compatibility
Species-only housing is safest; community success is unreliable and must not be promised
Habitat structure
Densely planted mature aquarium with complex sight breaks, gentle flow, excellent filtration and no exposed filter intakes

Feeding and nutrition

Diet
Small live or frozen crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and appropriate molluscs; many refuse dry food
Feeding frequency
Feed controlled small meals daily, remove uneaten food and monitor tooth wear and body condition

Breeding and reproduction

Breeding or reproduction
Spawning may occur in fine plants or moss after courtship. Species-specific fry rearing is demanding; separate eggs or fry from adults and provide microscopic live food.
Parental care
No dependable post-spawning parental care

System demands

Filtration
Use mature biological filtration sized for the full adult group and feeding load, with intake protection where juveniles, long fins or small fish are present. Provide steady turnover without preventing normal swimming or resting.
Aeration
Maintain strong surface gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, breeding crowding or any ammonia or nitrite event.
Maintenance
Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, remove waste from feeding and shelter zones, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes before nitrate or dissolved organics accumulate.

Detailed husbandry

Identity scope
This profile applies to Carinotetraodon travancoricus. It must not be confused with the separate imitator puffer Carinotetraodon imitator.
Adult size and space
Usually 2.5–3.5 cm total length. At least 60 L for one heavily structured individual; a carefully managed group needs substantially more space and sight breaks. Plan around adult dimensions, activity, social structure, aggression and waste production rather than sale size.
Social structure
Do not assume tiny size makes group housing simple; manage a known sex ratio, dense territory separation and a removal plan
Placement or swimming zone
Primary zone: All levels, hunting around plants and hardscape. Keep that zone usable for movement, feeding and refuge.
Feeding ecology
Small live or frozen crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and appropriate molluscs; many refuse dry food
Feeding plan
Feed controlled small meals daily, remove uneaten food and monitor tooth wear and body condition
Water stability
Maintain 23–28 °C; pH 6.5–8.0; hardness/minerals: Moderately soft to hard. Stable oxygenation and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact number.
Adult projected load
Plan capacity for Do not assume tiny size makes group housing simple; manage a known sex ratio, dense territory separation and a removal plan at the documented adult size (Usually 2.5–3.5 cm total length) in At least 60 L for one heavily structured individual; a carefully managed group needs substantially more space and sight breaks. Include feeding intensity, territorial behaviour and breeding growth rather than counting sale-size juveniles.
Filtration
Use mature biological filtration sized for the full adult group and feeding load, with intake protection where juveniles, long fins or small fish are present. Provide steady turnover without preventing normal swimming or resting.
Aeration
Maintain strong surface gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, breeding crowding or any ammonia or nitrite event.
Maintenance
Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, remove waste from feeding and shelter zones, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes before nitrate or dissolved organics accumulate.
Habitat structure
Densely planted mature aquarium with complex sight breaks, gentle flow, excellent filtration and no exposed filter intakes
Compatibility plan
Species-only housing is safest; community success is unreliable and must not be promised
Breeding plan
Spawning may occur in fine plants or moss after courtship. Species-specific fry rearing is demanding; separate eggs or fry from adults and provide microscopic live food. Parental care: No dependable post-spawning parental care.
Quarantine
Quarantine new fish in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated equipment. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm feeding and normal respiration, and never add transport water to the established aquarium.
Welfare checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. This Vulnerable Western Ghats endemic is not a nano-community ornament. Territorial injury, starvation on unsuitable food and wild collection pressure are serious concerns.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.
Main risk
This Vulnerable Western Ghats endemic is not a nano-community ornament. Territorial injury, starvation on unsuitable food and wild collection pressure are serious concerns.
Overridable warnings
This Vulnerable Western Ghats endemic is not a nano-community ornament. Territorial injury, starvation on unsuitable food and wild collection pressure are serious concerns. Any override must still preserve adult space, social welfare, stable chemistry, oxygen and filter capacity.

Welfare and risk

Welfare checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. This Vulnerable Western Ghats endemic is not a nano-community ornament. Territorial injury, starvation on unsuitable food and wild collection pressure are serious concerns.
Main warning
This Vulnerable Western Ghats endemic is not a nano-community ornament. Territorial injury, starvation on unsuitable food and wild collection pressure are serious concerns.
Biosecurity
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.

Sources

Source note

Current identity or scope, husbandry, system-demand, welfare and Australian biosecurity evidence checked; active retired-source links removed; all AquaNexus wording is original.

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