Puffers are fascinating fish in the aquarium hobby because of their unusual, globelike shape and intelligent personalities, but many species grow incredibly large, require brackish water, or are too aggressive to be kept with other tankmates. Fortunately, the Amazon puffer is one of the few freshwater “community puffers” that only grows to 3 inches (7.6 cm) long and can live with other fish. Find out how to care for this amazing oddball and see if it’s the right pufferfish for you.
The Amazon puffer is native to the Amazon River Basin in South America and is also known as the dwarf puffer or pea puffer. They are a relatively hardy species and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, but they prefer slightly acidic water with a pH between 6.5-7.5. They also require a well-filtered tank with plenty of hiding places, such as plants and caves, to help them feel secure and reduce stress. In terms of diet, Amazon puffers are carnivorous and should be fed a variety of meaty foods, such as small snails, shrimp, and frozen or live bloodworms. With proper care and attention, these little puffers can live for up to 5 years in captivity.
What is the Amazon Puffer?
Colomesus asellus is known by many common names, including the Amazon puffer and South American puffer (SAP). Its golden yellow body is covered with splotchy, dark bands that look like a bumblebee pattern, and it has a white underbelly with a black spot near the base of its tail. The SAP is found all over the Amazon basin and surrounding areas in many different kinds of habitats, ranging from floodplain lakes to rushing rivers.
The SAP is a popular species among aquarium enthusiasts due to its unique appearance and playful behavior. They are known to puff up when threatened or stressed, making them a remarkable sight to observe. However, they require a large tank with plenty of hiding spots, as they can be territorial and aggressive towards other fish. In their natural habitat, they feed on a variety of invertebrates, small fish, and plants. In captivity, they can be fed a diet of freeze-dried or live foods, such as bloodworms and brine shrimp. Overall, the SAP is a fascinating and entertaining species to keep in a well-maintained aquarium.
Overall, the SAP fish is a unique and captivating species that requires proper care and attention. They can be a great addition to any well-maintained aquarium, but it’s important to understand their behavior and dietary needs to ensure their health and happiness.
South American puffers are very curious and like to closely examine every nook and cranny of their surroundings.
Fish farms have not found the secret to profitably breeding Amazon puffers in captivity yet, so all of the ones sold at your fish store are caught from the wild. Many of them may come in extremely skinny with parasitic infections. Therefore, do not buy a puffer that has a concave abdomen or is covered in white spots. Even if you purchase relatively healthy specimens, make sure to quarantine them in a separate tank first to ensure they do not spread diseases to your other aquariums. Because of the high likelihood of pathogens, we recommend proactively treating them with a trio of quarantine medications to clear them of any bacterial, fungal, or parasitic illnesses they may have. (This process is similar to the vaccination of pet dogs and cats that you bring home.)
South American puffers require a specific diet that includes a variety of foods such as snails, shrimp, and small pieces of fish. They also need a hard substrate to continuously grind their teeth down, as their teeth never stop growing. It’s important to provide them with plenty of hiding places and decorations to explore, as they are intelligent and active fish that enjoy a stimulating environment. Additionally, South American puffers are capable of inflating themselves when threatened, so be sure to provide enough space in the tank to prevent injury. With proper care, these curious and unique fish can thrive in a home aquarium.
How do you deworm a puffer?
Pufferfish are especially prone to internal parasites like tapeworms, but the dewormers only get rid of adult worms and do not affect unhatched eggs. Therefore, you must apply multiple deworming treatments to ensure all the eggs have hatched and are eliminated. For our personal puffers, we treat them with the quarantine medication trio and then wait two weeks. Next we follow up with a 5-day treatment of Fritz ParaCleanse (using the instructions on the box) and then wait a month. Afterwards, we use a 7-day treatment of PraziPro as our final deworming step. For more information on how to treat fish parasites,
it is important to consult with a veterinarian or experienced fish keeper to ensure proper dosages and treatment plans. Additionally, maintaining a clean and well-maintained aquarium can help prevent parasitic infections in the first place. Regular water changes, proper filtration, and avoiding overfeeding can all contribute to a healthy and parasite-free environment for your pufferfish. It is also important to quarantine any new fish before introducing them to your established tank to prevent the spread of parasites and other illnesses. By taking these preventative measures and following a proper deworming protocol, you can help keep your pufferfish healthy and happy for years to come.
Do Amazon puffers puff up?
Yes, they can suck in water or air as a defense mechanism, but do not deliberately stress them out to see this behavior. You can view pictures online that show them in an inflated state. If you need to transport them, consider using a small plastic tub or catch cup instead of a fish net to prevent them from sucking in air.
It’s important to note that Amazon puffers can be aggressive towards other fish in their aquarium. They are known for nipping at fins and may even attack and kill smaller fish. It’s best to keep them in a species-only tank or with larger, more robust fish that can hold their own against the puffer’s aggression. Additionally, Amazon puffers require a specific diet that includes hard-shelled crustaceans to help keep their teeth from overgrowing. Providing them with appropriate food and a suitable environment is crucial for their health and well-being.
How long do Amazon pufferfish live?
Hobbyists have reported owning their South American puffers for up to 8-10 years and sometimes even longer.
However, the lifespan of an Amazon pufferfish can vary depending on several factors such as their environment, diet, and overall health. In the wild, they are known to live for up to 15 years. In captivity, they require a well-maintained tank with appropriate water parameters, good filtration, and regular water changes to thrive. A balanced diet that includes a variety of live and frozen foods is also crucial for their health and longevity. With proper care, Amazon pufferfish can live a long and healthy life in captivity.
How to Set Up an Aquarium for Amazon Puffers
Because these puffers are fairly active swimmers, we recommend keeping them in at least a 30-gallon aquarium, but 55 gallons would be even better. Because they live in such a wide variety of habitats in the wild, they are quite hardy and can be kept in pH levels of 6.0-8.0, soft or hard water, and 72-82°F (22-28°C).
How many Amazon puffers can you keep in a tank? They are best kept either as an individual or in a group of six or more. If you decide to go with a number somewhere in between, they could start fighting and get into territorial disputes. Add lots of decorations, aquarium plants, and hardscape to block their line of sight and give them interesting areas to explore.
Amazon puffers are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods, including live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and small crustaceans. They also enjoy vegetable matter such as blanched spinach and zucchini. It’s important to not overfeed these puffers as they can easily become obese. Feed them small amounts two to three times a day. These fish are known for their quirky personalities and will often interact with their owners. With proper care and attention, they can live up to 10 years in captivity. Overall, Amazon puffers make an interesting and entertaining addition to any aquarium.
Use tall background plants like vallisneria as moving obstacles for the pufferfish to swim around, thus providing greater enrichment in their environment.
Can Amazon puffers live with other fish?
Yes, we consider them to be “community fish” compared to other puffers, but they still have a bit of attitude and sometimes can nip at slower, long-finned fish. Also, they are prone to eating invertebrates like snails and shrimp. Instead, keep them other similar-sized, peaceful fish that are equally as energetic, such mollies, swordtails, larger tetras and rasboras, and dwarf cichlids.
It is important to note that Amazon puffers are sensitive to water quality and require clean, well-maintained aquariums. They also prefer a heavily planted tank with plenty of hiding places and caves. Additionally, they have a unique diet that includes live or frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and snails. It is recommended to feed them a varied diet to ensure they receive all the necessary nutrients. With proper care and attention, Amazon puffers can make wonderful additions to a community aquarium.
Why do my Amazon puffers keep glass surfing?
“Glass surfing” is when a fish repeatedly swims up and down along the tank walls, and it could be caused by stress, boredom, defense of territory, and other reasons. While there is no guaranteed cure for this behavior, many hobbyists have tried covering or painting the tank walls in black to reduce reflection, increasing flow with a powerhead, blocking their favorite corner with tall decorations or plants, adding tannins to the water with catappa leaves to decrease visibility, and feeding different kinds of live foods for them to hunt.
It is important to note that glass surfing can also be a sign of poor water quality or inadequate tank conditions, such as low oxygen levels or high levels of ammonia or nitrite. It is crucial to regularly test the water parameters and perform necessary water changes to maintain a healthy environment for your fish. Additionally, providing hiding spots and enrichment activities, such as toys or puzzles, can also help alleviate stress and boredom for your puffers. If the behavior persists or worsens, it may be necessary to consult with a veterinarian or experienced fish keeper for further advice.
What Do Amazon Puffers Eat?
Amazon puffers are omnivores and feed on a variety of foods in their natural habitat, including insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. In captivity, they can be fed a diverse diet that includes high-quality pellets, frozen or live foods like brine shrimp, krill, and bloodworms. It is important to provide a balanced diet and avoid overfeeding to prevent health issues.
Amazon puffers are omnivores and feed on a variety of foods in their natural habitat, including insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. In captivity, they can be fed a diverse diet that includes high-quality pellets, frozen or live foods like brine shrimp, krill, and bloodworms. It is important to provide a balanced diet and avoid overfeeding to prevent health issues.
In addition to a varied diet, Amazon puffers also require a suitable environment to thrive in captivity. They prefer a heavily planted tank with hiding places and soft substrate. The water parameters should also be closely monitored, with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5 and a temperature between 74°F and 80°F. It is important to keep the tank clean and perform regular water changes to maintain a healthy environment for the Amazon puffers. With proper care and a well-balanced diet, these fascinating fish can live up to 10 years in captivity.
Like many puffers, SAPs have four, continually growing teeth in the front of their mouths that form a “beak,” enabling them to chomp through the hard shells of crustaceans and mollusks. To prevent their teeth from becoming too long, you must grind them down by feeding all sorts of crunchy foods, such as bladder snails, ramshorn snails, and freeze-drilled krill. While it may take a bit of training, some hobbyists have successfully fed Repashy gel food mixed with crushed oyster shells (sold as chicken feed) or they have dipped rocks in Repashy so that the Amazon puffers scrape their teeth against hard surfaces. If you are having a hard time putting weight on your newly purchased puffers, try frozen bloodworms and live blackworms at first. While these foods will not help file down their teeth, few puffers can resist them.
SAPs are like many other puffers in that they have four teeth that never stop growing. These teeth form a beak that helps them crack open the tough shells of crustaceans and mollusks. But, in order to keep their teeth from getting too long, you need to feed them crunchy foods like bladder snails, ramshorn snails, and freeze-drilled krill. Some hobbyists have even had success using Repashy gel food mixed with crushed oyster shells or by dipping rocks in Repashy, so their puffers can scrape their teeth against hard surfaces.
If you’re having trouble getting your puffers to gain weight, try feeding them frozen bloodworms and live blackworms. While these foods won’t help file down their teeth, they are sure to be a hit with your puffers. So, don’t give up and keep trying different foods until you find what works best for your little fishy friends.
Frozen bloodworms are a good treat to help new Amazon puffers gain weight, but then transition them to hard, crunchy foods to grind down their teeth.
How do you clip a pufferfish’s teeth? If the hard foods are not filing down their beaks enough, your puffer’s teeth may become so overgrown that they can no longer properly eat. To prevent them from starving, you need to clip the tips of their teeth using a pair of sharp cuticle trimmers. Do your research to find out which method works best for you, but a common technique is to add 2-4 drops of clove oil per 1 liter (about 4.25 cups) of water. Add the puffer into the mild anesthetic solution and it should become sedated within a minute or two. Hold the drowsy puffer gently in your fist; if the puffer is too slippery, use surgical gloves or a fish net (wrapped like a blanket around the puffer) to get a better grip. Use the cuticle cutters to trim off the pointy tips of the upper and lower teeth as needed. Place the fish back into fresh water and it should wake up again within a few minutes. Depending on the puffer and its diet, this procedure may need to be repeated every 4-12 months.
If the thought of fish dentistry is not appealing to you, consider one of their smaller relatives, the pea puffer or Indian dwarf puffer. They only grow to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, can be kept in smaller fish tanks, and do not have a problem with overgrown teeth.
Do you need to trim your pufferfish’s teeth? If their beaks aren’t wearing down from hard foods, their teeth can grow too long for them to eat properly. To prevent them from going hungry, you can clip the tips of their teeth using sharp cuticle trimmers. There are different methods to try, but one popular technique is to mix 2-4 drops of clove oil per liter of water. Soak the puffer in the solution and it should become sedated in a minute or two. Hold the puffer carefully in your hand or use surgical gloves/a fish net for a better grip. Use the cuticle trimmers to trim the pointy tips of their teeth. Place the puffer back in fresh water and it should wake up within a few minutes. You may need to repeat this process every 4-12 months, depending on your puffer’s diet.
If you’re not keen on doing fish dentistry, you might like their smaller cousins, the pea puffer or Indian dwarf puffer. These little guys only grow up to an inch long, so they can live in smaller fish tanks without dental issues.
Care Guide for Amazon Puffers – Freshwater Puffer for Community Tanks
Published at Mon, 01 Nov 2021 09:30:00 -0400