Amazon Puffer

The Amazon Puffer is an awesome little fish—colorful, fast-moving, and full of personality.

This species (Colomesus asellus) is often considered one of the most sought-after freshwater puffers. It comes from the oxygen-rich waters of the Amazon Basin, where it sometimes forms loose groups. In captivity, they usually grow to around 3 inches, but wild specimens have been recorded at 5 inches. Unlike many other freshwater puffers, the Amazon Puffer isn’t as aggressive, so it can often be kept in a community tank. Its streamlined body is built for fast-flowing water, making it much more agile than most puffers.

Keeping Amazon Puffers in a Community Tank

If you want to keep Amazon Puffers in a community setup, space and décor are key. Avoid slow-moving fish with long fins, as they might get nipped. Males can be territorial, so having plenty of plants, rocks, and driftwood helps create separate spaces and break up lines of sight. The best way to keep them is either as a single fish or in groups of six or more, as smaller groups can lead to bullying issues. Since they naturally live in fast-moving, well-oxygenated rivers, excellent water quality is a must, and a filter that turns over the tank’s full volume six to ten times per hour is required.

Feeding and Care

Amazon Puffers can be picky eaters and often ignore dry foods. They prefer frozen bloodworms and other meaty frozen foods. In the wild, they primarily eat crustaceans and snails, so they are not safe with dwarf shrimp or other ornamental invertebrates. However, they are excellent for controlling nuisance snails such as bladder snails. Like all puffers, their beaks grow continuously and need to be worn down by eating hard-shelled prey; otherwise, they may require trimming.

Why I Like This Fish:

• Highly intelligent and full of personality
• Can be kept in groups in a large enough tank
• Completely plant-safe
• Great at controlling pest snails
• Fully freshwater—no brackish setup required
• Can be kept in a community tank with the right tankmates

Recommended Tank Parameters:

• Temperature: 68 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 26 degrees Celsius)
• pH: 5.5 to 8.0
• Minimum Tank Size: 40 gallons for a group

Care Guidelines:

• Diet: Carnivorous—requires crustaceans and snails
• Origin: Amazon Basin (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador)
• Adult Size: 2.75 to 3 inches (7 to 7.6 centimeters)
• Purchase Size: 2 to 2.5 inches (5.1 to 6.4 centimeters)

If you are looking for an active, quirky, and fun fish to add to your aquarium, the Amazon Puffer is a fantastic choice—just be prepared to meet its care requirements.