Does the Amazon Puffer need salt in its water?

No. Unlike the Green Spotted Puffer or Figure Eight Puffer, the Amazon Puffer is a strictly freshwater species and should never be kept in brackish or marine conditions.

How often should I feed snails to my Amazon Puffer?

Hard-shelled foods like snails or small clams should be offered almost daily. Their teeth grow incredibly fast, and without a constant supply of crunchy food to wear them down, they will overgrow and prevent the fish from eating.

Can I keep an Amazon Puffer alone?

While they can survive alone, they are highly social for a pufferfish and thrive best in groups of three or more. Keeping them in a group significantly reduces stress and unwanted behaviours like glass surfing.

Will they eat my ornamental shrimp or snails?

Yes. Any crustacean or mollusc in the tank will be viewed as a natural food source. Do not keep them with Neocaridina shrimp, Amano shrimp, or ornamental snails unless you intend for them to be eaten.

What should I do if my puffer's teeth get too long?

If diet alone fails to keep their teeth trimmed and they struggle to eat, you will need to manually trim their teeth. This involves mildly sedating the fish with clove oil and carefully clipping the beak with cuticle nippers. It is highly recommended to research this procedure thoroughly or consult an aquatic vet.

FreshwaterTropicalIntermediate

Amazon Puffer

Colomesus asellus

A highly active, strictly freshwater pufferfish renowned for its relatively peaceful shoaling nature and rapidly growing teeth.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 22 – 28 °C
pH range: 5.5 – 7.5
Hardness: 2 – 15 dGH
Adult size: 7 – 10 cm
120L for a group of 3-4: 120 litres+
Lifespan: 7 – 10 years
Diet: Carnivore/Molluscivore. Requires hard-shelled foods (snails, small clams, krill) daily to wear down rapidly growing teeth.
Water flow: moderate

About the Amazon Puffer

The Amazon Puffer (Colomesus asellus) stands out among the Tetraodontidae family as one of the few strictly freshwater puffers that tolerates—and even prefers—the company of its own kind. Characterised by distinctive black bands across a greenish-gold back and a bright white belly, this energetic fish is a fascinating addition to a specialised community tank. Unlike many marine or brackish cousins, it requires a pure freshwater environment for its entire life.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Amazon Puffer against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Amazon Puffer comes from

Native range

Amazon Basin

Countries / regions

Brazil, Peru, Colombia

Habitat

Large slow-moving rivers, flooded forests, and tributaries with abundant submerged vegetation.

Widespread throughout the central and upper Amazon basin.

Similar species

Pea Puffer
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Figure Eight Puffer
Tetraodon biocellatus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Rummy-nose Tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus
Fast-moving and short-finned, easily avoiding the puffer's nipping tendencies.
Great
Zebra Danio
Danio rerio
Extremely active upper-level swimmers that stay out of the puffer's way.
Great
Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus sp.
Generally well-armoured and peaceful, but slow enough that a particularly nippy puffer might harass it.
Compatible with caution
Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras spp.
Bottom dwellers that can be subjected to fin-nipping; monitor closely if kept together.
Compatible with caution
Betta Splendens
Betta splendens
Slow-moving with long, flowing fins that will certainly be shredded by the puffers.
Not recommended
Mystery Snail
Pomacea bridgesii
Will be continuously attacked, maimed, or eaten as puffers naturally prey on molluscs.
Not recommended

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