Origin
Native to slow-moving rivers, lakes, and floodplain pools in Southeast Asia, particularly around Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.

Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Distinct humped back and triangular body profile with mottled brown and cream spotting for camouflage. Its movement is deliberate and jerky, with eyes that move independently and a beak that makes it look perpetually alert.

Purpose
Serves as a centerpiece for species-only or single-puffer tanks. Observing its stalking and territorial behaviors brings a sense of mystery and realism to freshwater predator tanks.

Importance
A true oddball species with growing popularity among puffer specialists. Offers a chance to work with a unique predator and understand complex solitary behaviors.

Included Resources
Requires a soft sand substrate, strong filtration, moderate flow, and scattered hardscape or caves for line-of-sight breaks. No tankmates. Good lid essential—prone to jumping.

Best Use Cases
Dedicated oddball tanks, puffer-specific aquaria, or biotope setups replicating murky Southeast Asian backwaters. Not suitable for planted or community tanks.

Conservation Context
Wild-collected with limited export. Habitat degradation in Southeast Asia threatens local populations. Sustainable keeping depends on responsible sourcing and avoiding impulse purchases.

Ideal Aquatic Species
• None. Must be kept solo.
• In extremely large tanks (75–100+ gallons), may tolerate fast inverts like Amano shrimp (still risky).
• Never keep with other fish or puffers.

Region (A)
• Latitude: 2.9909° S
• Longitude: 104.7561° E
(Palembang region, South Sumatra – floodplain habitat)

Region (B)
• Latitude: 3.1390° N
• Longitude: 101.6869° E
(Klang Valley, Peninsular Malaysia – slow-moving river networks)