Colomesus asellus
The Amazon puffer is one of the few truly freshwater puffers that does best in a group. Active and fast-swimming, it needs a long tank with strong filtration and regular water changes. Beak grows continuously—offer snails and crustaceans alongside frozen foods to help wear teeth. Generally ignores similarly fast fish but may nip long fins; not for delicate planted aquascapes with slow tankmates.
Snails (major dental maintenance), frozen mussel and shrimp, krill; occasional vegetable matter; avoid dry-only feeding.
Frequency: 1–2× daily
Schedule snail offerings; overgrown beak may need veterinary trim if neglected.
Native Region: South America (Amazon and Orinoco basins)
Main river channels and floodplains with moderate to strong flow.
Powerful filtration and turnover; open swimming length; rounded rock decor.
Activity Level: High
Schooling Size: 5+ recommended
Shoals in open water; may “click”; secure lid recommended.
Difficulty: Difficult
Type: Egg scatterer
Sexual Dimorphism: Subtle; females sometimes rounder when mature.
Spawning rarely documented in aquaria; migratory breeding in nature.
Substrate: Sand
Plant Safe: No
Tough plants only—may nip soft leaves; driftwood for enrichment.
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