Top 3 Worst Freshwater Pufferfish to Buy

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While there are plenty of freshwater pufferfish to choose from if you’re interested in keeping a puffer tank, there are a few species that you should avoid purchasing. Many have very strict husbandry requirements, and others simply get way too big for the average fish tank set up.

1. Mbu pufferfish. While these guys make a striking freshwater pufferfish in an aquarium, they get huge – like several feet huge. In order to properly care for an Mbu puffer, you are going to need a fish tank set up that almost fills an entire room. While most care guides recommend 150 gallons as the minimum tank size, an adult Mbu really shouldn’t be in anything less than 800 gallons. If they are kept in a tank that is too small, then they will create a lot of fish problems for their owner, like broken fish tank glass and increased waste production that leads to death. There are plenty of other beautiful freshwater pufferfish that don’t require such extensive upkeep, or turn into massive tank busters.

2. Fahaka pufferfish. Although Fahaka puffers don’t get nearly as large as Mbu’s, at almost two feet, they still turn into pretty sizeable fish. They still require a large enough tank that will allow them to fully turn around when they reach adulthood, and they are still expensive to maintain once you factor in the food bill and frequent, large water changes that they will require. If you do decide to get a Fahaka, make sure you purchase a wide enough tank – the standard 150 gallon show tank is too narrow for an adult to comfortably turn in.

3. Green Spotted Puffer. The GSP is a very poor choice if you are looking for a freshwater pufferfish because they can’t live out their entire life in a freshwater fish tank. Contrary to what most pet stores list them as, Green Spotted Puffers are actually high end brackish aquarium fish – and many do better in a full saltwater set up. If you do decide to purchase one, make sure you have the correct type of aquarium salt to create a brackish environment – the aquarium salt used to treat fish problems is not an adequate substitute for actual marine salt.

Freshwater pufferfish can make great aquarium fish as long as you provide them with the proper environment. Just make sure that you have a large enough fish tank set up to accommodate the adult size and waste production of the species that you choose.

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