Order Tetraodontiformes
Family Tetraodontidae
To be continued…
Genus Tetraodon — Tetraodon.
— Spotted Green Pufferfish — Tetraodon nigroviridis [Proce, 1822]. Synonym: Tetraodon potamophilus, simulans, Chelonodon nigroviridis, Arothron simulans. (Eng. Burmese Pufferfish, Spotted Green Pufferfish, Topaz Puffer). South Asia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, China. Found in freshwater and brackish coastal areas. 15 cm. These fish feature a sturdy, rounded body shape with small spines and can inflate themselves when facing perceived or real danger, turning belly-up and floating to the water’s surface.
The head has a broad forehead with a rhomboid yellow-green spot and large protruding eyes. Body coloration is a bright greenish-yellow with dark blackish-brown spots on the back (sometimes grouped in small clusters) and a white belly. Each spot is surrounded by thin yellow rings.
At the base of the caudal fin, there is a black spot. Coloration is highly variable, ranging from green to blue and violet, depending on mood and health status. With age, the coloration darkens and becomes somewhat blurred. Fins are rounded, yellowish, but transparent. Juveniles are less attractive.
Territorial, require their own space, pugnacious, love shady places and hiding spots, nibble on plants, especially those with soft leaves. Intolerant towards tankmates even at a young age. Predatory in nature, they may also eat scales and fins of other fish. For large specimens, separate maintenance is recommended; not suitable for a community aquarium.
Young fish can be kept in hard fresh water for some time, but after maturing, brackish water is essential for a healthy and long life. Those raised in brackish or marine water are much brighter and grow much faster. With enough snails for food, a single pair can be kept with large fish. A spacious, well-planted aquarium with a substrate of the finest coral sand, into which they love to burrow, is necessary. They need plenty of hiding places and careful monitoring.
Diet: snails, mollusk meat, earthworms, beef heart, mosquito larvae, mealworms. The fish are capable of crushing food with very hard shells, such as snails. They also have fast-growing teeth, which eventually require trimming. Being scaleless, they are more prone to diseases. Lifespan up to 10 years. pH 7.5-8.5; dH 12-18°; T 23-28°C.
Identification: Tetraodon nigroviridis — Tetraodon nigroviridis.
— Real Palembang Pufferfish, Dragon Puffer — Tetraodon palembangensis [Bleeker, 1852]. Synonym: Tetraodon pinguis, Monotrete palembangensis. (Eng. Real Palembang Pufferfish, Palemba Puffer, Humpback Puffer). Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia – freshwater and brackish waters. 19 cm. A stocky fish with a wide forehead and prominent eyes. It features characteristic upward-curved spines on its body. Colors change with age and depending on the habitat. Each fish has its own unique pattern. The body moves forward thanks to the propeller-like movement of the pectoral fins.
Aggressive towards conspecifics and other fish families. They do not get along with other fish; large and strong fish, as well as Plecostomus, can be added with caution. When chasing an opponent, they intake water and forcefully squirt it at them. They also rarely live peacefully among themselves. They move very little, spending most of their time motionless buried in the substrate or hovering among plants.
They generally only make movements in relation to food. Having quickly swallowed everything offered to them, they immediately return to their previous state. These are freshwater varieties that do not require brackish water. Caves should be provided in the aquarium for breeding. Lifespan up to 10 years. pH 6.7-7.7; dH 5-15°; T 23-28°C.
— African Leopard Puffer — Tetraodon schoutedeni [Pellegrin, 1926]. (Eng. African Leopard Puffer, Spotted Congo Puffer). Lower and middle Congo River basin. 10 cm. Strictly freshwater. Body is elongated-ovate, pear-shaped, more slender than other puffers, scaleless. Jaw teeth fuse together to form a pair of cutting plates in each jaw, separated at the front.
Eyes are red with a black pupil. Colored light brown, back beige, belly white in juveniles but yellowish-brown in adults. Upper half of the body features numerous dark brown and black spots. Fins are beige-yellow. Females are larger and wider than males.
The most peaceful species among all puffers, with only harmless territorial skirmishes observed. They can be kept in a community aquarium with active, large fish, but preferably in a species tank. They stay in the lower and middle water layers. When removed from the water, they immediately swallow air and inflate. Released back into the water, they swim belly-up for a while and appear completely helpless, unable to submerge.
Carnivorous species, preferring mollusks and worms, mosquito larvae, mealworms, as well as beef meat, heart, and liver. Regular aquarium snails from the genera Melanoides, Planorbarius, or Lymnaea serve as food. They may nibble and move plants around, although they do not eat them. Spawning occurs in the upper water layers among floating plants; after fertilization, eggs fall to the bottom, and the male guards the clutch until fry hatch. Lifespan is about 8 years. dH 10-20°; pH 7.0-8.0; T 22-26°C.
Enneacampus ansorgii, Microphis brachyurus.
Tetraodon leiurus, miurus, mbu. 
