Pea puffer care guide
Also called: Dwarf puffer, Malabar puffer, Pygmy puffer, Indian dwarf puffer, Dwarf pufferfish
The pea puffer is a tiny freshwater puffer from southwestern India, only about 2.5 cm (1 in) long. It is full of personality, but it nips fins and eats shrimp and snails, so it is best kept in a heavily planted species-only tank.
Pea puffers need a tank of at least 5 gallons (19 L), and water at 24–28°C (75–82°F) with a pH of 7–8. They grow to about 2.5 cm (1 in) and are aggressive.
Plan a tank with pea puffersSee all tank mates
Pea puffer quick facts
| Scientific name | Carinotetraodon travancoricus |
|---|---|
| Family | Tetraodontidae |
| Origin | Rivers of Kerala and nearby southwestern India (freshwater only; listed as Vulnerable in the wild) |
| Adult size | 2.5 cm (1 in) |
| Minimum tank | 5 gallons (19 L) |
| Temperature | 24–28°C (75–82°F) |
| pH | 7–8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–20 dGH |
| Group size | Alone, or 1 male with several females |
| Temperament | Aggressive; males fight each other |
| Swims at | All levels |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 3–4 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Best kept in a species-only tank.
- Notorious fin nipper: avoid long-finned tank mates.
Tank setup
One pea puffer can live in a 5-gallon (19 L) tank. Add about 3 gallons (11 L) for each extra puffer, so a densely planted 20-gallon (76 L) tank holds about six. Lots of plants and decor break up lines of sight and cut down on fighting.
How many pea puffers in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits pea puffers is a 5 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Pea puffers (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Up to 10 |
| 10 gallon | Up to 21 |
| 15 gallon | Up to 31 |
| 20 gallon | Up to 42 |
| 20 gallon long | Up to 42 |
| 29 gallon | Up to 61 |
| 40 gallon | Up to 84 |
| 55 gallon | Up to 116 |
| 75 gallon | Up to 159 |
| 125 gallon | Up to 265 |
Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one male, alone or with several females.
What you need for pea puffers
Sized for a 5 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits pea puffers. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 5 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 25 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 79 °F (26 °C) in a room at 68 °F (20 °C). A bigger heater can overheat a small tank if it sticks on. How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 20–30 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 15 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 16 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for pea puffers
- Micro pellets or flakes for small fish (opens Amazon in a new tab)Small enough for tetras, rasboras and other nano fish.
- Freeze-dried bloodworms or brine shrimp (opens Amazon in a new tab)A treat that carnivores and insect eaters love. Feed it a few times a week.
- Caves and hides (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gives shy and territorial fish their own space.
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Water parameters
Keep them at 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 7.0–8.0 and 5–20 dGH. Despite some shop labels, they are a true freshwater fish and do not need salt. They make a lot of waste for their size, so filter well and change water every week.
Best tank mates for pea puffers
These popular species share pea puffers' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 0 good matches.
Avoid keeping pea puffers with
- Angelfish: Pea puffer is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of angelfish.
- Betta fish: Pea puffer is a well-known fin nipper and will shred the long fins of bettas.
- Bristlenose pleco: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.
- Bronze corydoras: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras.
- Cherry shrimp: Pea puffer eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Pea puffer 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
Feeding
Pea puffers are carnivores and usually refuse flakes. Feed frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, live blackworms and small pest snails. Many keepers feed snails often to help keep the teeth short, though not all sources agree this is needed. Remove leftovers, because they are messy eaters.
Behavior
Curious, active and territorial. Rival males can fight to the death, so keep a single fish or one male with two or three females. They nip fins and hunt shrimp and snails, which is why a species-only tank is strongly recommended.
Breeding
They breed fairly often in planted tanks. Females scatter a few tiny eggs in moss or fine plants. Move the eggs to a separate tank, where they hatch in about 5 days. Feed the fry infusoria and then baby brine shrimp, and separate them by size so bigger fry do not eat smaller ones.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Keep one male per two or three females. Males have a dark stripe along the belly, while females are rounder and plainer.
- Breed ramshorn or bladder snails in a spare jar for a steady supply of live food.
- Fill the tank with plants and decor so the puffers cannot see each other all the time.
- Expect new puffers to reject dry food. Plan on feeding frozen and live foods.
- Look for captive-bred fish, since wild populations are listed as Vulnerable.
Frequently asked questions
Can pea puffers live with other fish?
Usually not. They nip fins and harass slow fish, so a species-only tank works best. Some keepers manage with small, fast fish such as otocinclus, but it is a gamble.
Do pea puffers need brackish water?
No. Pea puffers live only in fresh water in the wild, and adding salt is not needed.
How many pea puffers can I keep in a 10-gallon tank?
About three in a densely planted 10-gallon (38 L) tank, ideally one male and two females.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.