Malabar Puffer ~ Dwarf Puffer

Distribution:
   The Malabar Puffer or Dwarf Puffer is a more recent addition to the hobby. They are found in Asia; Sri Lanka to Indonesia and north to China.They inhabit freshwater to brackish coastal estuaries; streams, rivers, and floodplains where they are found singly or in small groups.
   This is one of those fish that has been given a huge number of common names. It is known not only as the Malabar Puffer or Dwarf Puffer, but it's nomenclature also includes: Pea Puffer, Pygmy Puffer, Blue Eyed Puffer, Indian Dwarf Puffer, Abeni Puffer, BB Puffer, Sea Frog, Bumblebee Puffer, Malabar Pufferfish, and Indian Malabar Pufferfish. Whew!

Status:
   Though not currently listed on the IUCN Red List, the Malabar Puffers or Dwarf Puffers are reported as probably being an endangered species on www.Fishbase.org website.

Description:
   The Malabar Puffer or Dwarf Puffer is the smallest of the pufferfish. It has a rounded body shape similar to that of a bean or pea, with a tail attached. Their overall body color is a golden brown on top becoming lighter yellow or whitish underneath, with dark greenish blue green to black markings. Like many of the pufferfish, the coloring can vary with age, disposition, and environment. Mature males develop a dark vertical line along the underside and tend to have a more yellowish belly than the females. These pufferfish also have mobile blue eyes, thus one of its common names being the 'Blue Eyed Puffer'.
   Pufferfish have the ability to 'puff' themselves up with water or air if threatened. When they inflate, their spines protrude outward and this apparently helps keep them from being eaten. Another defense of many puffer species is to produce toxic substances in their flesh that is poisonous if eaten. The Pufferfish can be quite long lived in the aquarium, many living for 10 or more years.

   Though first described in 1941, the Malabar Dwarf Puffer Carinotetraodon travancoricus did not become available to the United States until the later 1990's, and in 1991 a color variation of this species was described, the Dwarf Imitator Puffer Carinotetraodon imitator.
   This fish was probably imported simultaneously with the Malabar Puffer. Whether a distinct species, subspecies, or a variation is not yet determined, but the Dwarf Imitator Puffer is distinguished by having blue spots.

Size - Weight:
   These fish will only reach up to only about 1 - 1 1/2 inches (2.5 - 3.5 cm).

Care and feeding:
   The Malabar Puffers or Dwarf Puffers are carnivores. One thing to keep in mind when choosing foods is that this fish is quite small, so its food also needs to be on the smaller side. They are will eat a diet of live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and occasionalyl small snails (about the size of their eyes) to control tooth growth. They will generally reject flake foods.
   Puffers have strong teeth that grow throughout their lives, so are prone to overgrown teeth. Offer hard shelled live food often to keep the teeth worn down. Feeding snails daily will help to wear down the teeth. If the teeth get too long, they will be unable to eat, requiring the owner to clip the teeth.
   Since puffers do not have gill covers or scales, they are thought to be more susceptible to diseases, nitrite, nitrate and ammonia levels. Like all puffers, this puffer is not a good fish to cycle an aquarium with. Also because they usually don't eat all of their food (messy eaters!), these fish will usually put more load on the aquarium filtration requiring more frequent water changes and better maintenance in general. A generous weekly water change of 30% to 50% is the standard recommendation for a puffer aquarium.
   The Malabar Puffers are freshwater fish. If kept singly, a 5 gallon aquarium will work fine for one, but if you want to keep more than one provide about 3 gallons of water per fish. These puffers are very intelligent and inquisitive. Like all puffers the individual temperament of each fish can vary greatly, but they are territorial and can be fierce defenders of their space. They need a well planted aquarium, and possibly some other decor, arranged in a manner to break the line of sight and provide nooks and crannies. This will reduce boredom for your fish and also help to prevent aggressive encounters.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   The Malabar Puffer or Dwarf Puffer will swim in the all areas of your aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
This puffer is a freshwater species.
   Temp: 72° - 82° F (22 - 28°C)
   pH: 7.5 - 8.3
   Hardness: 8 - 15 (soft to medium)
   Nitrates: under : 20ppm (mg/L)

Social Behaviors:
   Like all the pufferfish, the Malabar Puffer or Dwarf Puffer can vary greatly in temperament from one individual to another. They are aggressive to other species of fish with the exception of the small active algae eater, the Otocinclus, called 'Otto'. Other than the Otocinclus as a tank mate, this puffer is best kept either singly or with others of their own kind. Even then the males can be quite territorial and aggressive. To help avoid fighting make sure their aquarium has adequate space, is well planted in a manner to break their line of site, and offers plenty of caves and hiding places. Also keep a ratio of one male per three females as the males do become scrappier as they mature.

Sexual Differences:
   The Malabar Puffers or Dwarf Puffers are unique in the puffer world in that they show sexual dimorphism once they mature. The male has a few distinctive characteristics. One being a dark vertical line along the center of their bellies which becomes even darker during spawning, and another being lines behind their eyes, similar to 'wrinkles'. Females won't have wrinkles or the vertical line, and will be a bit more plump.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   This puffer is being successfully bred both commercially and by hobbyists. Condition and warm them, increasing the temperature by five to ten degrees, to induce spawning. When spawning, they scatter their eggs in the open water where they typically become hidden in the vegetation. There needs to be plenty of plant cover to protect the eggs. Newly hatched fry can be fed baby brine shrimp and microworms.

Availability:
   Due to the success of commercial breeding, the Malabar Puffer or Dwarf Puffer are commonly available at both pet stores and online. They cost about $2.00 to $5.00 USD.