Origin
Native to the Congo River Basin in Central Africa, particularly in slow-moving, vegetated tributaries and floodplain pools.

Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Bright golden to olive body with sharp dark spots and endearing eyes that track movement independently. Unlike most puffers, it’s relatively calm and inquisitive—often seen perched on leaves or hovering mid-water with soft fin movement.

Purpose
Adds personality and motion to a freshwater setup without the usual aggression of puffers. A great oddball centerpiece in peaceful aquascapes.

Importance
Unlike many other puffers, T. schoutedeni has community potential. Its mellow behavior and manageable size make it a gateway into the world of pufferkeeping.

Included Resources
Requires stable, clean water with moderate flow, soft substrate, driftwood, and plant coverage. Tank should have caves and visual breaks. Preferably kept in a group or alone—tankmates must be chosen carefully.

Best Use Cases
Low-aggression oddball tanks, African river biotopes, or planted tanks with calm schooling fish. Thrives in aquascapes with strong microfauna populations.

Conservation Context
Collected from the wild in the Congo Basin—a region impacted by deforestation, mining, and political instability. Sustainable sourcing and captive-breeding support long-term viability.

Ideal Aquatic Species
• Congo tetras
• Pencilfish
• Peaceful corydoras
• Small loaches (e.g., kuhli)
• Other Spotted Congo Puffers (group of 3+)

Region (A)
• Latitude: -1.5150° S
• Longitude: 18.6400° E
(Middle Congo Basin, near Mbandaka, DRC)

Region (B)
• Latitude: 0.3970° N
• Longitude: 15.3600° E
(Ouésso area, Republic of the Congo)