Order Tetraodontiformes ( Tetraodontiformes )
Family Pufferfishes ( Tetraodontidae )
Continued…
Genus Tetraodon — Tetraodon.
— Ocellated Puffer Fish — Tetraodon cutcutia [Hamilton, 1822]. Synonyms: Tetrodon caria, gularis, Leisomus cutcutia. (English – Ocellated Puffer Fish). India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malay Archipelago – fresh and brackish waters. 10-15 cm. This fish is very simple both in appearance and for aquarium keeping. It has a thick-skinned, egg-shaped body covered with small spines; when frightened, it is able to inflate and turn into a hard ball covered with spines. Eyes are large and movable. Tail is rounded. All fins have only soft rays. Coloration is highly variable.
The main body color is brownish-olive, against which dark stripes and spots form a reticulated pattern. The back can range from dark green to olive-green, the flanks from yellowish to light gray; the belly is dirty white. The largest spot is located on the forehead, with a wide dark stripe running between the eyes. The belly is dirty white.
Fins range from yellowish-gray to olive-green. During the spawning period, the male develops a red border on the tail. Green color predominates in the coloration of males, while yellow predominates in females. During the spawning period, the fish gradually darken, and reddish stripes appear on their tail and pectoral fins.
Can be kept in a large general aquarium with large, fast fish, but is better kept in a species aquarium in a group of 4-8 fish. An aquarium with flat stones and plenty of hiding places (rock structures, caves, driftwood), with patches of dense plants. Crushed shells can be used as substrate. An intolerant species. Fish are territorial, pugnacious, like shady places and shelters, and nibble on plants, primarily those with soft leaves.
They are hostile to all fish: they take in water and shoot a strong stream at approaching fish. The fish stay in the lower layers of the water and come up only at dusk. The aquarium should be provided with good water filtration and aeration. They like frequent water changes. A one-time change of a large volume of water is not recommended, as it can lead to sharp changes in conditions. They should be fed bloodworms, earthworms, mollusks, tubifex, and especially love snails, which are their main food in nature.
These fish can be used to control excessively multiplying snails in the aquarium. They reach maturity at 1.5 years. It is best to breed puffers in the setup aquarium. Spawning occurs in a shelter, less often on a stone. The male cares for the offspring. Fry grow fast. T 25-28°C; dH 10-20°; pH 6.8-8.0. Salinity of 2-10% is desirable.
— Spotted Green Puffer — Tetraodon fluviatilis [Hamilton, 1822]. Synonym: Chelonodon fluviatilis, Dichotomycterus rangoonensis. (English – Ceylon Puffer, Green Pufferfish, Spotted Green Puffer, Spotted River Puffer, Round Spotted Puffer, Tidal Pufferfish). South India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Philippines, and Sunda Islands – brackish and fresh waters. 12-17 cm. Pear-shaped body without scales. Head and body covered with small spines that lie flat against the body when calm.
The fish has a peculiar structure of the dorsal and pectoral fins. Thanks to them, the puffer has the ability to move backward, like a crayfish. However, nature did not provide pectoral fins at all when creating this fish. The fan-shaped dorsal fin is shifted backward. At the moment of danger, thanks to the air sac extending from the stomach, the puffer inflates and takes the shape of a ball, and the spines become vertical.
Color varies depending on the age and origin of the fish. The main body background ranges from yellowish-green to emerald-green. The bright green color is especially pronounced in young specimens. Brown or black spots of various sizes are scattered on the back, head area, and flanks. The spots on the flanks are smaller and round in shape. The belly is light without spots. Fins are translucent with a slight yellow tint. With age, the body coloration begins to fade significantly. Males are slimmer and brighter than females. The green puffer has two subspecies: — T. fluviatilis fluviatilis and — T. fluviatilis sabahensis. Both subspecies differ in having separate saddle-like stripes crossing the back.
Young fish are peaceful, becoming intolerant with age. They must be kept in an aquarium of 150 liters or more with various shelters (rock caves, driftwood). Only a species aquarium is suitable for them, as they like to bite the fins of other fish. Aggressive towards conspecifics and other fish families. A species aquarium has great advantages; there should be a sufficient number of shelters because these fish often attack each other and will fight for territory, sometimes to the death.
Plastic plants can be used for aquascaping. The puffer tolerates fresh water well, but brackish conditions are still preferable, especially in adulthood. Relatively sensitive to dissolved oxygen deficiency. Copper-based treatments must not be used; extremely sensitive to nitrites and ammonia.
Carnivorous species; favorite food includes fish, mollusks, as well as aquatic insects and their larvae. Plant and meat supplements in the form of sinking tablets are also necessary. The fish quickly get used to the feeding place and time. They do not eat dry food. Reaches sexual maturity in the 2nd year of life. The female spawns on smooth stones. The male guards the clutch. They live up to 15 years. dH 7-18°; pH 7.0-8.0; T 23-26°C, salinity 2-6%.
— Fahaka Puffer, Nile Puffer — Tetraodon lineatus [Linnaeus, 1758]. Synonyms: Tetraodon physa, stigosus, fahaka. (English – Band Puffer, Coral Butterfly Puffer, Fahaka Puffer, Globe Fish, Nile Puffer). Nile, Lake Chad basin, Niger, Senegal, Gambia – coastal waters. 40 cm. They have a bright orange-red eye. The coloration of juveniles is motley, featuring a bizarre pattern characteristic of Arabian frescoes, which is sharply different from the attire of adults.
In growing fish, seemingly randomly scattered spots begin to merge, gradually forming golden horizontal stripes running from the pectoral fins to the tail. The general coloration is brownish-green with yellow stripes along the body, gradually becoming light yellowish on the underside of the body and ending in a yellowish-whitish belly. The coloration of the fish changes with age, mood, and environment. When sick, their coloration darkens. 3 subspecies are known: — T. lineatus fahaka – Nile, — T. lineatus strigosus – Niger, 20 cm long, — T. lineatus rudolfianus – Lake Turkana (Rudolf), 7 cm long, most suitable for aquarium keeping.
Extremely aggressive towards conspecifics and other fish families; all living creatures in the aquarium will be destroyed, so it must be kept alone. Only a species aquarium is suitable for it. Stays in the lower and middle layers of the water. Substrate should be sandy or fine gravel. Young fish usually burrow into the substrate (both as defensive behavior and when hunting prey), especially in sandy substrate, and sometimes even in gravel. With age, this behavior is observed less frequently, but some adults also hide.
This species is freshwater and never requires added salt. Does not like soft water. Very intolerant of the presence of ammonia and nitrates; weekly water changes are mandatory. Large specimens require powerful biological filtration. These fish in the aquarium feed mainly on large bloodworms and seafood: squid, mussels, scallops, lobster and crab legs, shrimp. Teeth grow throughout their life, so snails and hard food must be given frequently to wear down the teeth. If the teeth are too long, they will not be able to eat.
Young fish are fed 1-2 times a day; when 7 cm long, daily; adult fish twice a week. Transport must be carried out in a rigid container, otherwise it can bite through or puncture the polyethylene bag. Grow slowly. Mature in 2 years. Impossible to breed in the aquarium due to their aggressiveness towards each other. They live 10 years. Temperature 23-28°C, dH 10-15°; pH 6.5-7.5.
Tetraodon leiurus, miurus, mbu.
Tetraodon biocellatus, Tetraodon cochinchinensis. 
