Arrowhead Puffer — a Tetraodontidae from Mekong basin, SE Asia, curious, bold and not to be trusted with tankmates' fins. Reaches 8.6–12.7 cm; singly, with room to patrol. 24–28 °C.
Care parameters
Water temperature
24–28 °C
pH
7.5–8.5
GH hardness
9–19 dGH
Adult length
8.6–12.7 cm
Minimum tank
194 L
Water layer
Bottom-dwelling
Difficulty
Moderate
Temperament
Curious, bold and not to be trusted with tankmates' fins
Origin
Mekong basin, SE Asia
Species overview
Tetraodontidae species Pao suvattii comes from Mekong basin, SE Asia. A personality with fins: it recognises keepers, patrols territory and investigates everything. It lives on the bottom. Adults reach 8.6–12.7 cm. Singly, with room to patrol. Plan around the beak: shelly foods weekly, heavy filtration, and few if any neighbours. Maintain 24–28 °C at pH 7.5–8.5. A solid choice for a well-planned community tank.
Native biotope
Habitat
Estuaries and brackish shallows
Flow
Still to gentle
Dissolved O₂
High oxygen appreciated
Aquascape & hardware
Substrate
Fine sand
Hardscape
Open sand with sparse decor
Plants
Sparse hardy plants
Temperament, diet & tankmates
Schooling
Singly, with room to patrol
Diet
Needs crunchy prey: snails and shellfish trim the ever-growing teeth
Recommended tankmates
Fast robust fish too large to harass — Only in the largest setups
Avoid keeping with
Invertebrates — Eaten like the snails they are
Breeding & notes
Sexual dimorphism
Unclear
Breeding method
Spawning reported rarely; courtship on the substrate