Abe's Puffer

Pao abei is a medium-small freshwater puffer from the rivers of Southeast Asia, named in honour of its describer. It exhibits typical Pao body shape with muted brown-olive patterning and yellow-tinted flanks. Like all members of the genus, it requires hard-shelled foods to prevent beak overgrowth and should be housed individually due to strong intraspecific aggression.

Water: 24–28°C, pH 6.5–7.5, soft to moderately hard; regular water changes maintain health. Tank: Minimum 80 L; open sandy areas with plant clusters and driftwood for territorial boundaries. Feeding: Snails, clams, mussels, bloodworm, and cockles; variety is key. Behaviour: Solitary and territorial; will attack conspecifics and other puffer species on sight. Compatibility: Species-only; keep individually in a dedicated aquarium.