All fish / Tetraodontidae

Congo puffer

Tetraodon miurus

Also known as congo puffer, red congo puffer, miurus puffer, potato puffer, brown congo puffer, dwarf congo puffer, ปักเป้าคองโก, テトラオドン・ミウルス, buntal kongo, 刚果河豚, 火山河豚

A stout, wedge-headed puffer with eyes set high on the head, varying in colour from sandy brown to reddish orange or near black to match its surroundings. It spends most of its time buried in sand waiting to ambush passing prey, which makes it an unusual specimen fish for keepers who enjoy predators.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

13 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

Best kept alone

Diet

Carnivore: snails, shellfish, earthworms, prawns, fish pieces

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lower and middle Congo River basin (DR Congo, Republic of the Congo)

Breeding

Not reliably bred in captivity, and little is known about its reproduction. All aquarium specimens are wild caught.

Good to know

It bites and eats any tankmate it can catch, so keep it on its own over soft sand. Its teeth grow continuously, so offer hard-shelled foods such as snails to keep them worn down.