All fish / Tetraodontidae

Bronze Puffer

Auriglobus modestus

Also known as bronze puffer, golden puffer, modestus puffer, auriglobus puffer, target puffer, yellow puffer, ปักเป้าทอง, buntal, ゴールデンパファー, buntal kuning, 金河豚

A slender, active pufferfish with a bronze to golden back fading to a pale belly. Unlike most puffers it swims constantly in open water, and keepers value it for its lively behaviour and character.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Best kept alone or in a large tank with plenty of space

Diet

Carnivore: snails, shrimp, bloodworm, mussel and other meaty frozen foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southeast Asia: Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo

Breeding

Not reliably bred in home aquariums and little is recorded about its spawning. Almost all fish in the trade are wild caught.

Good to know

Very fin-nippy and aggressive towards tankmates, so it is best kept alone or with fast, robust fish. Needs a tight lid and hard-shelled foods to keep its teeth worn down.