Figure Eight Puffer Fish

The Figure Eight Puffer Fish is one of the most accessible and charming members of the pufferfish family — a small, personable species named for the distinctive figure-eight or eyespot pattern on its dorsal surface. With bright yellow-green coloration, bold black markings, and the trademark puffer ability to inflate when threatened, this fish packs an outsized personality into a compact three-inch frame. It is one of the few pufferfish species suitable for intermediate-level aquarists, making it an excellent gateway into the fascinating world of puffer keeping.

A critical detail that many retailers overlook: the Figure Eight Puffer is a brackish water species. While it can survive in pure freshwater for extended periods, it thrives and lives significantly longer in water with a specific gravity of 1.005 to 1.008. This means adding marine salt mix to the aquarium — not aquarium salt, but proper marine-grade salt that provides the full mineral complement these fish require. A hydrometer or refractometer is essential for monitoring salinity.

A minimum 30-gallon aquarium is recommended for a single specimen. Temperature should be maintained between 72 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit, with pH between 7.0 and 8.0. The brackish requirement limits compatible tankmates to species that tolerate or prefer similar conditions: bumblebee gobies, mollies, and certain species of chromides work well.

Diet must include hard-shelled foods to wear down the continuously growing beak-like teeth that all pufferfish possess. Snails, small crustaceans, clams, and mussels should form the dietary backbone, supplemented with frozen bloodworms and krill. Without hard foods, the teeth can overgrow and prevent the fish from eating — a common and entirely preventable problem.

The Fish Collection ships with insulated packaging and our live arrival guarantee.