These fish need much more space than most community tropical fish species, requiring 30 gallons of water per puffer. So, the pufferfish is most suited to a fishkeeper with experience in keeping marine fish. That means more work and experience is required on the part of the hobbyist to maintain a suitable environment for the puffer. However, as the fish reach adulthood, they need brackish or marine water. The Green Spotted puffer is not a suitable aquarium fish for a beginner, as puffer care requirements are not straightforward.Īs juveniles, puffer fish are happy to live in freshwater. Spotted puffers live for up to 15 years when kept in ideal conditions in a marine or brackish tank. Some species of puffer produce toxins when alarmed, rendering their flesh poisonous if eaten.Īt full maturity, the Green Spotted puffer fish grows to around 6.7 inches in length. When inflated, the puffer’s spines stick out, preventing the fish from being eaten by predators. The fish have a natural defense mechanism where they “puff” up their bodies with water or air if they feel threatened. In juvenile Leopard puffers, the green coloration is not as colorful as in adults. The fish’s color varies between individuals, but they all have bodies that shade from a rich green upper body covered with dark spots to a creamy whitish underside. These cute fishes’ main appeal is their round, comical face with its tiny mouth, bulging eyes, and broad forehead. The Green Spotted puffer fish has a rotund, stout body with little spines. Before they become fully mature, young puffer fish are able to tolerate swimming through freshwater, saltwater, and brackish conditions. That being said, puffers do migrate into flooded, freshwater areas during the rainy season as juveniles. The puffer’s habitat has plenty of aquatic vegetation, rocks, and a sandy or fine pebbly substrate.Īlthough many fish stores market Spotted puffer fish as freshwater fishes, the fishes’ habitat is primarily brackish. Puffers are also known to eat the fins and scales of other fishes, which makes them unsuitable for life in a community tank. Leopard puffers inhabit brackish to freshwater streams, flood plains, rivers, and coastal estuaries, where they feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and other small invertebrates. These lovely fishes are found ranging right across Africa through to Asia from Sri Lanka to Indonesia and further north as far as China and were first described in 1822 by Marion de Procé. The species is moderately priced at around $10 to $15 dollars, depending on the specimen’s age, size, and coloration. Leopard puffers are commonly available from fish stores and online dealers. However, don’t be fooled! Puffers have teeth that they use to munch on snails, smaller fish, and invertebrates, making them unsuitable for many community setups. Puffers are undoubtedly the cutest fish around! They have bulbous, enquiring eyes that seem to constantly follow you, hoping for food, and their wobbling swimming style and round bodies are enchanting. The fish that you see in fish stores are usually wild-caught in their natural habitat in South and Southeast Asia. Leopard puffers are tropical brackish water fishes that live for up to 15 years, growing to measure six inches long. The Leopard puffer belongs to the Tetraodon order of freshwater fishes, is also known as the Green Spotted puffer, Spotted Green pufferfish, Green Spotted pufferfish, and Burmese puffer, and has the scientific name, Dichotomyctere nigroviridis. Read on to find out all you need to know about these fascinating fishes! Leopard puffer – Overview Are Leopard puffers suitable for a community tank? Are these fish easy to care for and suitable for a beginner? What do you feed a Leopard puffer? In this guide, we take a closer look at the delightful Leopard puffer so that you know what you’re taking on if you choose to bring one of these cuties home from the fish store. Puffer fish are characterful creatures that are sure to capture your heart, and the Leopard puffer is a particularly attractive variety.
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