All fish / Tetraodontidae

Figure 8 puffer

Dichotomyctere ocellatus

Also known as figure eight puffer, figure 8 pufferfish, eight puffer, tetraodon biocellatus, tetraodon ocellatus, owl puffer, figure-8 puffer, buntal, 八字娃娃, 八字河豚, ปลาปักเป้าเลขแปด, ミドリフグ

A small, inquisitive puffer with a yellow-green back covered in dark loops that often form a figure 8 pattern, and a white belly. Keepers value its lively, personable behaviour and modest adult size compared with most puffers.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Best kept alone or in a small group in a larger tank

Diet

Carnivore: snails, bloodworm, mysis, krill, shrimp and other hard-shelled foods to wear down the beak

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Brackish

Wild range

Southeast Asia: Mekong basin, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia (Borneo, Sumatra)

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs on flat surfaces and the male guards them until they hatch. Captive breeding is occasional and usually accidental, with fry needing very small live foods.

Good to know

Although often sold as a freshwater fish, it lives in low-salinity brackish water in the wild and does best long term in slightly brackish conditions. It nips fins and eats shrimp and snails, so it is unsuitable for community tanks, and its beak can overgrow without hard foods.