All fish / Tetraodontidae

Humpback Puffer

Pao palembangensis

Also known as humpback puffer, palembang puffer, tetraodon palembangensis, twin spot puffer, dwarf humpback puffer, sumatran puffer, ปักเป้าพาเลมบัง, buntal, パレンバンフグ, buntal palembang, 巨巴肥, 巴领河豚

A chunky ambush puffer with a raised back, mottled brown, olive and yellow skin and large expressive eyes. It spends much of its time sitting still among plants or on sand waiting for prey, and keepers value it for its character and ability to recognise its owner.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

18 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: snails, shrimp, mussels, earthworms, crayfish and other hard-shelled meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southeast Asia: Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand)

Breeding

Rarely bred in captivity. Males are reported to guard eggs laid on a flat surface, but there are few documented home spawnings.

Good to know

Highly predatory and will bite or eat tankmates, so it should be kept alone; feed hard-shelled foods to keep its constantly growing beak worn down. It is a truly freshwater species and does not need brackish water, and it is often confused with other Pao species sold under similar names.