Pea Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus)

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Pea Puffers are one of the most unique and entertaining freshwater fish in the hobby. Known for their tiny size, bright eyes, and huge personality, these little puffers are full of character and are constantly aware of what is going on around them. Despite their small size, they are intelligent, curious, and quickly become a standout fish in the aquarium.

At Legacy Line Aquatics, these fish are bred and raised in-house by me in a small-scale, care-first setup. I do not source from mass-production fish farms. My focus is on raising healthy fish with clean water, proper nutrition, and attentive day-to-day care, so you receive fish I’d be confident keeping in my own fish room.

Why Hobbyists Love Pea Puffers

• Extremely personable and intelligent for such a small fish
• Unique pufferfish behavior in a compact freshwater species
• Great option for species-focused aquariums
• Constantly active, aware, and interesting to watch
• Small size makes them a favorite for hobbyists wanting something different

Temperament & Behavior

Pea Puffers are small, but they are not timid fish. They are curious, alert, and often territorial, especially with each other. While their size is tiny, their personality is not. They do best in thoughtfully arranged aquariums with cover, broken lines of sight, and careful stocking.

They do best in tanks with:

• Heavy plant cover and visual barriers
• Driftwood, décor, and structure
• Gentle flow
• Stable water quality and temperature
• Plenty of exploration space and hiding areas

Tank Size (Recommended)

• Single pea puffer: 5 gallons+ recommended
• Small group: 10 gallons heavily planted preferred
• Larger groups: 20 gallons long strongly recommended to reduce stress and aggression

Water Temperature

• Ideal range: 74–80°F
• Many hobbyists keep them around 76–78°F
• A stable temperature is more important than chasing an exact number

Tank Mates

Pea Puffers are best kept in a species-focused setup. While some hobbyists attempt community combinations, they are known for fin nipping and may harass or stress other fish. For most keepers, a species-only aquarium is the safest and most reliable option.

Good tank mates may include:

• Species-only pea puffer setups
• Very carefully planned setups only with caution

Avoid:

• Long-finned fish
• Slow-moving fish
• Shrimp
• Snails if you do not want them hunted
• Fish that are easily stressed or likely to be fin nipped

Feeding

Pea Puffers thrive on a varied meaty diet. They are not typical flake-food community fish and usually do best with frozen or live foods. A rotation of quality foods helps support body condition, activity level, and overall health.

Recommended foods:

• Frozen bloodworms
• Frozen brine shrimp
• Live baby brine shrimp for small individuals or grow-outs
• Small live foods when available
• Other meaty foods sized appropriately

What You’re Getting from Legacy Line Aquatics

When you purchase from me, you’re getting fish that were bred and raised in-house, not mass-imported and flipped. I take a small-scale approach so I can focus on:

• Fish health
• Clean systems
• Proper feeding, mixture of quality frozen foods, live foods, and other appropriate meaty foods
• Careful day-to-day observation
• Strong overall condition

That matters, especially with pea puffers.

Local Delivery

• Delivery is available within an 80-mile maximum distance from Owensboro, Kentucky.
• $150 minimum order is required for delivery
• $25 delivery fee applies

Local Meet-Up

• Local meet-up is available.
• After order we will contact you by email, or through Facebook or Instagram Messenger.
• We will arrange a date, time, and public location to meet.

Shipping & Live Arrival

Live fish are shipped Monday–Wednesday (weather permitting) to reduce transit risk. Please review our How Shipping Works page and DOA policy before ordering.