Many thanks to Lexcy in Abbotsford, BC for all the information below.

Figure 8 Pufferfish

These puffers orignate in freshwaters of Southeast Asia and are said to be a little nippy.  I have them in a tank with my other pufferfish and haven't had any kind of a problem.  I have also heard personal stories from pufferfish owners that they nip, so take extra precaution when introducing them to a new tank.  Figure 8s are said to be brackish water fish , but there is still quite a debate on whether this is true or not.  Most hobbyists would say to add some salt, but not much.  Salt is good for most freshwater fish, as it kills bacteria if they have a wound.  It's not bad in proper quantities.

 

Scientific Name:   Tetraodon biocellatus  Family:   Puffer  Temperature:   22 - 26 C; 72 - 79 F  PH   6.5 - 7.5  Size:    6 cm; 2.5 inches  Life Span:    5 years  Breeding:    Difficult

Compatibility: Other puffers.  Possibly aggressive and may nip other fish.

Spotted Green Pufferfish

These guys are my personal favorite.  I have had one now for two years and he's getting big.  I must say from what I have seen, they are one of the smartest fish and are friendly to humans.  They do get nippy and aggressive at times.  They can be placed in a community tank with other fish, but keep a close watch and feed them well.  These puffers are always hungry.  I find if they are feed them three times a day in smaller amounts that they nip less.  Their nipping also depends on the size of the tank and the amount of swimming space that they have.

Spotted Green Pufferfish are very entertaining to watch, especially their swimming patterns.  They will live a long time if taken care of properly.  From my experience, this type of puffer is very sensitive, so if you are a beginner, I suggest you start with the hardier dwarf puffer.  Spotted Green Pufferfish eat frozen then thawed bloodworms, ghost shrimp and pond snails . The snails keep their beak from growing too large.  These puffers are a definite brackish water fish.  When they get older, they can be introduced slowly into a fully saltwater environment.  In saltwater, they will do better and their colors are vibrant.

 

Scientific Name:   Tetraodon nigroviridis  Family:   Puffer  Temperature:   24 - 28 C; 75 - 82 F  PH   8  Size:    10 - 17 cm; 4 - 7 inches  Life Span:    years  Breeding:    Difficult

Compatibility: Other puffers.  Nippy in a community tank unless they have adequate space and food.

Tim's Tropical Fish Information about freshwater and saltwater tropical fish, fish care, fish facts, compatibility and aquarium maintenance.