Figure Eight Puffer
Dichotomyctere ocellatus
The Figure Eight Puffer (Dichotomyctere ocellatus) is an aggressive fish that's best left to experienced keepers. Give it a tank of at least 75 litres (20 US gallons), water held at 72-79°F, and a pH of 7-8.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Asia / South America
- East & Southeast Asia
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Figure Eight Puffer Tank Setup
Give them at least 75 litres (20 US gallons) - many puffers are messy and can deliver a real bite. Keep the water at 72-79°F with a pH around 7-8; a species-only tank is often the safest choice.
What Do Figure Eight Puffers Eat?
They're meat-eaters, so feed good-quality frozen or gel foods rather than relying on generic flake. Go easy on portions - leftover protein fouls the water faster than plant foods do.
Figure Eight Puffer Tank Mates
May nip fins; avoid with long-finned or slow tankmates. Predatory; may eat small fish or inverts. The Figure Eight Puffer is aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a known fin-nipper, so avoid bettas, guppies, and other slow, long-finned fish. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Figure Eight Puffers Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
Figure Eight Puffer - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Figure Eight Puffers need?
Figure Eight Puffers need a tank of at least 75 litres (20 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Figure Eight Puffers need?
Keep them at 72-79°F with a pH of 7-8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Figure Eight Puffers eat?
Figure Eight Puffers are meat-eaters. Feed good-quality frozen or gel foods rather than relying on generic flake, and don't overfeed. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Figure Eight Puffers good for beginners?
Figure Eight Puffers are not a beginner species. They need precise conditions and consistent maintenance, so build experience with hardier fish before keeping them.
Common mistakes with Figure Eight Puffers
- Mixing with long-finned fish - Figure Eight Puffers will nip at bettas, angelfish, and other fish with flowing fins, causing stress and infection risk.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Figure Eight Puffers
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Neon TetraIncompatible temperament or care requirements
- Pygmy CoryIncompatible temperament or care requirements
