Eyespot pufferfish
Tetraodon biocellatus
Parameter dashboard
22.2-26.1 °C
6.5-7.5
8 cm
5 years
Care guide
The figure-8 puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus) is a small, charismatic pufferfish found in rivers and coastal waters of Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Its common name refers to the distinctive figure-eight or saddle-like markings on its back, while the eyespot patterns on its body help deter predators. Reaching only about 8 cm, this is one of the smaller freshwater puffer species, but it packs considerable personality into a compact body. The aquarium should be at least 70L with a sandy substrate, dense planting, and twisted roots or branches to provide cover while leaving open swimming areas. Figure-8 puffers are often maintained in freshwater but tend to live longer with the addition of marine salt to a specific gravity of around 1.005, reflecting their natural brackish habitat. They are intelligent fish that recognize their owners and will actively beg for food. Their diet must include hard-shelled foods like snails, crab legs, and unshelled prawns to wear down their continuously growing beak-like teeth. Without such foods the teeth can overgrow and become life-threatening. Fin-nipping tendencies make them unreliable community fish; fast-moving tankmates like danios or rasboras are the safest companions.
Source
Further reading on identification and aquarium care.
Tankmate compatibility (sample)
Pairwise screening against other species in the database (prioritizing the same family when data is available).
Review first (10)
Caution or avoid from automated rules — confirm before mixing.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue-eye panaque Panaque suttonorum Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range Open pair in Compare → |
| Daisy's Rice Fish Oryzias woworae Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Livingstonii Cichlid Nimbochromis livingstonii Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together Open pair in Compare → |
| Malabar pufferfish Carinotetraodon travancoricus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Medusa Pleco Ancistrus ranunculus Caution | Caution | the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range Open pair in Compare → |
| Red phantom tetra Hyphessobrycon sweglesi Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Small snakehead Channa asiatica Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Threespot eartheater Satanoperca daemon Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together Open pair in Compare → |
| Chocolate gourami Sphaerichthys osphromenoides Avoid | Avoid | Species with non-overlapping temperature ranges cannot coexist · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range Open pair in Compare → |
| Globe fish Tetraodon lineatus Avoid | Avoid | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · one of these species is highly aggressive and is usually best kept on its own · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space · Fahaka puffers are best kept alone: they can seriously injure or kill tankmates, including larger fish. Open pair in Compare → |
2 species with compatible assessment in this sampleCollapse to hide the list; use “Open pair in Compare” for the full matrix.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rummy-nose tetra Hemigrammus rhodostomus Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
| Three spot gourami Trichogaster trichopterus Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
Same rule engine as Compare. Not a substitute for observation, tank size, or acclimation.
Related species
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