Pea Puffer
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
The Pea Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) is a semi-aggressive fish that's a good step up once you have a little experience. Give it a tank of at least 40 litres (11 US gallons), water held at 73-82°F, and a pH of 6.5-8.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Western Ghats rivers of Kerala and Karnataka, southern India.
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Pea Puffer Tank Setup
Give them at least 40 litres (11 US gallons) - many puffers are messy and can deliver a real bite. Keep the water at 73-82°F with a pH around 6.5-8; a species-only tank is often the safest choice.
What Do Pea 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.
Pea Puffer Tank Mates
Smallest puffer. Nips fins aggressively. Will eat snails and small invertebrates. Best in species or specialist community. The Pea Puffer is semi-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 Pea 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.
Pea Puffer - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Pea Puffers need?
Pea Puffers need a tank of at least 40 litres (11 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 Pea Puffers need?
Keep them at 73-82°F with a pH of 6.5-8, 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 Pea Puffers eat?
Pea 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 Pea Puffers good for beginners?
Pea Puffers are best for keepers with a little experience. They are manageable once you test water regularly and catch problems early; a complete beginner may prefer something more forgiving first.
Common mistakes with Pea Puffers
- Mixing with long-finned fish - Pea 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 Pea 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
