Pea Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) is a intermediate-level freshwater fish that needs at least 5 gallons and 74-82°F. The smallest puffer. Personable but nippy and a picky carnivore that needs snails, frozen foods and sometimes live foods.
Care facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Carinotetraodon travancoricus |
|---|---|
| Family | Tetraodontidae |
| Origin | Southwest India |
| Adult size | 1-1.4 in |
| Minimum tank | 5 gallons |
| Temperature | 74-82°F |
| pH | 6.8-7.8 |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Social behavior | Solitary in 5 gal; groups in 15+ gal with lots of plants |
| Swim level | Mid |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Diet | Carnivore: live and frozen foods; snails help wear their beak |
| Typical lifespan | 4-5 years |
Quick tips
- Needs live or frozen foods; no flakes.
- Do not keep with fin-nipping-vulnerable tankmates.
- Add plenty of plants for line of sight breaks.
San Diego water
Tolerates San Diego's hard, alkaline tap water (pH roughly 7.6-8.6) with slow acclimation and a conditioner that handles chloramine. Learn the numbers in our San Diego tap water guide.
Before you buy
Make sure your tank is cycled (how to cycle a tank), check your numbers with the water testing guide, and use the compatibility guide to check tankmates. These are general ranges; individual fish and local water vary.
Find it at Pet Zone
Pet Zone Tropical Fish is a San Diego aquarium store with two locations. Stock changes daily, so call ahead if you are after a specific species or plant. Shop online at petzonesd.com.
4160 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 987-0309
Open daily, 10am-6pm
Aquascaping, planted tanks
4266 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 283-1812
Closed Monday; Tue-Fri 10:30am-6pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 11am-4pm
Monster fish, koi