Figure 8 Puffer, Tetraodon biocellatus

The Figure 8 Puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus) is a pufferfish that can be found in freshwater in Southeast Asia. Its known form the lower reaches of the Mekong, the Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Borneo.

These puffer fish achieve a length of about 3.1 inches long. They are colorful with greenish yellow colored patterns featured on their backs. These patterns vary greatly from fish to fish, but the markings on either side of the caudal fin look much like the number 8, or eye-spots. They are relatively peaceful among tetraodontidae, and have been kept successfully with other fish such as bumblebee gobies and mollies, but as with all pufferfish, there is a risk that tankmates will not be tolerated.

Like all members of the Tetraodon family, the figure 8 puffer fish has the capability of inflating itself with water and/or air when they feel stressed or otherwise frightened.

These fish are classified as molluscivores and consume mainly on benthic organisms which might include mussels, cockles, oysters, and krill, though some puffer fish will take other foods, such as flake. It is not recommended that their primary food source is flake. Their teeth, a beak formed from two plates, are capable of crushing shells in order to feed on prey.

Image Caption: Tetraodon biocellatus, Figure Eight pufferfish. Credit: ColdmachineUK/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Figure 8 Puffer Tetraodon biocellatus

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