Turgidus Puffer

Tetraodon turgidus is a medium-sized freshwater puffer endemic to Borneo and Sumatra, where it inhabits slow and moderately flowing lowland rivers and associated flood plains. The species is immediately identifiable by its notably rotund, swollen appearance even at rest — the abdomen is permanently more inflated-looking than most puffer species. The mottled brown-green colouration provides effective camouflage in leaf-litter and root habitats. It is an opportunistic predator of invertebrates and small fish, and its beak requires regular hard-shelled prey to prevent overgrowth. The aquarium should be a river-biotope style setup with a sandy base, driftwood, and robust plants, maintained with reliable filtration.

Water: pH 6.0–7.5, temperature 24–28°C, soft to moderate; good oxygenation; weekly partial changes. Tank: 150 L minimum; sand substrate, driftwood, robust or artificial plants; strong canister filtration. Feeding: Snails, mussels, clam flesh, earthworms, frozen shrimp; hard-shelled food mandatory weekly. Breeding: No captive records; presumed substrate spawner in river biotope conditions. Compatibility: Aggressive; solitary; will bite or consume tankmates; dedicated species tank only.