Yellow Pea Puffer

(Carinotetraodon travancoricus)

• Size: 2.5 cm (one of the smallest puffers in the world)
• Origin: Southwestern India (Kerala)
• Temperament: Curious, bold, but can be nippy
• Tank Type: Nano species-only or carefully selected tankmates
• Appearance: Bright yellow-green body with dark leopard-like spots
• Behavior: Highly intelligent, expressive, and interactive

Fun Facts

• Pea Puffers can move their eyes independently, giving them a chameleon-like ability to track movement.
• They don’t inflate often — inflating is a stress reaction, not something they should be encouraged to do.
• Despite their tiny size, they have true beaks and a natural instinct to hunt small snails.
  

Care Recommendations

• Group size: 3+ recommended (they are social but hierarchical)
• Tank size: Minimum 10 gallons for a small group
• Diet: Frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, live snails (helps wear down their beaks)
• Tankmates: Best kept species-only; may nip slow or long-finned fish
• Aquascape: Dense plants, hiding spots, and line-of-sight breaks reduce aggression
• Water parameters: Soft to medium water, stable and clean