Photo © Sean Evans
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| Common name: | Figure 8 Puffer, Palemba, Sumatra puffer |
| Scientific name: | Tetraodon biocellatus |
| Synonyms: | Has been (incorrectly) referred to as T. palembangensis. |
| Size: | Approx. 3" (7cm). |
| Origin: | Asia: Indo-China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand |
| Tank setup: | Either a species tank, or a community with selected companions. Leave some open swimming space but provide rocks, bogwood or robust/plastic
plants for cover. A sand substrate is ideal (easier to clean, and for the puffers to pick up sinking foods from). |
| Compatibility: | Not particularly aggressive, but may still nip fins or eat small fish such as tetras. |
| Temperature: | 24-28oC (75-82oF) |
| Water chemistry: | Ideally, this species should be kept in slightly brackish conditions. The level of salt is not critical, a SG of around 1.002 - 1.005 will suffice. |
| Feeding: | Live and frozen meaty foods: bloodworm and brine shrimp, cockles and mussels, snails. |
| Sexing: | No obvious differences. |
| Breeding: | Unknown |
| Comments: |
Although this species is caught in both freshwater and brackish water in the wild, it appears to be much hardier and
long-lived when kept in brackish aquaria. Unlike many other puffers, the attractive markings of this species do
not fade with age.
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