Spotted Congo Puffer ( Tetraodon schoutedeni )
The Spotted Congo Puffer is a highly sought-after and charismatic freshwater pufferfish. Unlike many of its often-aggressive cousins, T. schoutedeni is known for its relatively peaceful nature and active, curious personality, making it a truly engaging addition to a specialized aquarium.
Max Size: These charming puffers typically reach a modest size of 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 centimeters).
Behavior:
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A peaceful and active species, especially for a puffer. They are curious and will often patrol their tank, observing their surroundings.
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While generally peaceful, they are still pufferfish and can be nippy, especially towards slow-moving, long-finned, or very small tank mates.
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They are highly intelligent and can learn to recognize their owner, often begging for food.
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Unlike many puffers, they are not known for significant aggression towards conspecifics when kept in appropriate groups with ample space, though individual personalities vary.
Tank Requirements:
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A minimum tank size of 20 gallons for a single specimen is recommended, with 30 gallons or more for a pair or small group to allow for adequate territory.
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The tank should be heavily planted with dense vegetation, providing plenty of hiding spots and visual barriers. This helps reduce stress and potential aggression among tank mates.
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Provide varied decor such as driftwood, smooth rocks, and caves to offer exploration opportunities and resting spots.
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A soft, sandy substrate is ideal, as they enjoy sifting through it and can be seen "burying" themselves partially.
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A tight-fitting lid is always advisable, as energetic puffers can sometimes jump.
Water Parameters:
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Temperature: 75°F to 80°F (24°C to 27°C).
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pH: Slightly acidic to neutral, ideally 6.5 to 7.5.
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Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water is preferred.
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Pristine water quality is absolutely critical. Spotted Congo Puffers are highly sensitive to nitrates and poor water conditions. Regular, frequent water changes (e.g., 25-30% weekly) and excellent filtration are non-negotiable. They are prone to illness in sub-optimal conditions.
Diet:
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Carnivorous, with a strong preference for hard-shelled invertebrates to help wear down their constantly growing teeth.
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Their diet should primarily consist of snails (ramshorn, bladder, Malaysian trumpet snails are excellent staple foods), small crustaceans (e.g., freshwater shrimp, feeder crabs), and various frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and chopped earthworms.
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Do not feed exclusively soft foods, as this can lead to overgrown teeth, requiring manual trimming by a veterinarian.
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They are enthusiastic eaters and should be fed frequently in small amounts.
Compatibility:
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While more peaceful than many puffers, they are still best kept in a species-only tank or with very carefully chosen tank mates.
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Avoid slow-moving, long-finned, or very small fish, as these will almost certainly be nipped or preyed upon.
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Avoid housing with other puffers unless you have a very large tank and experience with puffer aggression, as T. schoutedeni can still be territorial towards conspecifics, despite being less aggressive than other species.
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Some aquarists have success with fast-moving, robust, and similarly sized fish such as certain active tetras (e.g., Congo Tetras, larger Danios), certain Rainbowfish, or some larger peaceful rasboras, but always with caution and observation.
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Monitoring is key: be prepared to separate if any aggression or fin-nipping occurs.