Freshwater
Puffer
More details
Duboisi Puffer (Tetraodon Duboisi)
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Description
Tetraodon duboisi is a highly specialized freshwater pufferfish from Central Africa, known for its bold personality, vibrant spotting, and strong territorial instincts. Rare in the aquarium trade, it’s prized for species-only tanks where its intelligence and behaviors can fully shine.
Difficulty Level
Expert Only
Region
Duboisi Puffer (Tetraodon Duboisi)
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Requires species-only setup, powerful filtration, and live/frozen diet. Sensitive to water quality and easily stressed by tank mates.
Environment Impact
/ 10
Often wild-caught, with limited availability in the hobby. Breeding is rare, and habitat degradation in the Congo basin is a concern.
Origin
Native to the Congo River basin in Central Africa, especially around fast-flowing, rocky, and clear freshwater systems with abundant hiding crevices.
Visual & Functional Appeal
Deep olive-green body scattered with brilliant yellow to ivory-white spots. Its compact, rounded shape and expressive eyes give it a charismatic look. Its frequent interaction with its environment and owners makes it a highly engaging centerpiece.
Purpose
A true wet pet. Functions as an intelligent solo species in species-only aquariums. Will learn feeding routines, recognize individuals, and patrol its territory with confidence.
Importance
Not suitable for community tanks, but ideal for aquarists seeking a rewarding and behaviorally rich fish. Its needs foster advanced care practices, encouraging focus on biological filtration, precision feeding, and observation.
Included Resources
Requires strong filtration, fine sand or smooth substrate, heavy cover, and driftwood or rock caves. Sensitive to ammonia and nitrites. Best supported with frozen foods like bloodworms, snails, and shell-on shrimp.
Best Use Cases
Best suited for large species-only setups or advanced puffer-focused aquaria. Also used in research settings for behavior and cognition studies due to its advanced learning potential.
Conservation Context
Habitat in the Congo is under pressure from deforestation and mining. While not evaluated for IUCN threat status individually, its genus includes several at-risk species.
Ideal Tank Mates
• Best kept solo
• If necessary, consider fast, upper-zone fish in large tanks (with caution)
• Avoid all invertebrates, slow fish, or similar-sized tank mates
Region (A)
• Latitude: -3.4095° S
• Longitude: 17.0584° E
(Middle Congo River region, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Region (B)
• Latitude: -2.9205° S
• Longitude: 15.9925° E
(Near the Pool Malebo region, lower Congo River basin)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Duboisi Puffer (Tetraodon Duboisi)
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Requires species-only setup, powerful filtration, and live/frozen diet. Sensitive to water quality and easily stressed by tank mates.
Environment Impact
/ 10
Often wild-caught, with limited availability in the hobby. Breeding is rare, and habitat degradation in the Congo basin is a concern.
Origin
Native to the Congo River basin in Central Africa, especially around fast-flowing, rocky, and clear freshwater systems with abundant hiding crevices.
Visual & Functional Appeal
Deep olive-green body scattered with brilliant yellow to ivory-white spots. Its compact, rounded shape and expressive eyes give it a charismatic look. Its frequent interaction with its environment and owners makes it a highly engaging centerpiece.
Purpose
A true wet pet. Functions as an intelligent solo species in species-only aquariums. Will learn feeding routines, recognize individuals, and patrol its territory with confidence.
Importance
Not suitable for community tanks, but ideal for aquarists seeking a rewarding and behaviorally rich fish. Its needs foster advanced care practices, encouraging focus on biological filtration, precision feeding, and observation.
Included Resources
Requires strong filtration, fine sand or smooth substrate, heavy cover, and driftwood or rock caves. Sensitive to ammonia and nitrites. Best supported with frozen foods like bloodworms, snails, and shell-on shrimp.
Best Use Cases
Best suited for large species-only setups or advanced puffer-focused aquaria. Also used in research settings for behavior and cognition studies due to its advanced learning potential.
Conservation Context
Habitat in the Congo is under pressure from deforestation and mining. While not evaluated for IUCN threat status individually, its genus includes several at-risk species.
Ideal Tank Mates
• Best kept solo
• If necessary, consider fast, upper-zone fish in large tanks (with caution)
• Avoid all invertebrates, slow fish, or similar-sized tank mates
Region (A)
• Latitude: -3.4095° S
• Longitude: 17.0584° E
(Middle Congo River region, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Region (B)
• Latitude: -2.9205° S
• Longitude: 15.9925° E
(Near the Pool Malebo region, lower Congo River basin)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Duboisi Puffer (Tetraodon Duboisi)
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Requires species-only setup, powerful filtration, and live/frozen diet. Sensitive to water quality and easily stressed by tank mates.
Environment Impact
/ 10
Often wild-caught, with limited availability in the hobby. Breeding is rare, and habitat degradation in the Congo basin is a concern.
Origin
Native to the Congo River basin in Central Africa, especially around fast-flowing, rocky, and clear freshwater systems with abundant hiding crevices.
Visual & Functional Appeal
Deep olive-green body scattered with brilliant yellow to ivory-white spots. Its compact, rounded shape and expressive eyes give it a charismatic look. Its frequent interaction with its environment and owners makes it a highly engaging centerpiece.
Purpose
A true wet pet. Functions as an intelligent solo species in species-only aquariums. Will learn feeding routines, recognize individuals, and patrol its territory with confidence.
Importance
Not suitable for community tanks, but ideal for aquarists seeking a rewarding and behaviorally rich fish. Its needs foster advanced care practices, encouraging focus on biological filtration, precision feeding, and observation.
Included Resources
Requires strong filtration, fine sand or smooth substrate, heavy cover, and driftwood or rock caves. Sensitive to ammonia and nitrites. Best supported with frozen foods like bloodworms, snails, and shell-on shrimp.
Best Use Cases
Best suited for large species-only setups or advanced puffer-focused aquaria. Also used in research settings for behavior and cognition studies due to its advanced learning potential.
Conservation Context
Habitat in the Congo is under pressure from deforestation and mining. While not evaluated for IUCN threat status individually, its genus includes several at-risk species.
Ideal Tank Mates
• Best kept solo
• If necessary, consider fast, upper-zone fish in large tanks (with caution)
• Avoid all invertebrates, slow fish, or similar-sized tank mates
Region (A)
• Latitude: -3.4095° S
• Longitude: 17.0584° E
(Middle Congo River region, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Region (B)
• Latitude: -2.9205° S
• Longitude: 15.9925° E
(Near the Pool Malebo region, lower Congo River basin)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Duboisi Puffer (Tetraodon Duboisi)
Region
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