Tetraodon nigroviridis - The Spotted Balloon
Green Spotted Puffer
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The Green Spotted Puffer is scientifically classified as Tetraodon nigroviridis, belonging to the family Tetraodontidae. The genus \"Tetraodon\" derives from Greek meaning \"four tooth,\" referring to the fused tooth plates forming a beak. The specific epithet \"nigroviridis\" combines Latin for \"black\" and \"green,\" describing the black spots on greenish background.
Common names include Green Spotted Puffer, Spotted Puffer, Leopard Puffer, and the abbreviation GSP in the aquarium hobby.
Green Spotted Puffers are medium-sized compact fish reaching 5-6 inches in length with rounded bodies that become spherical when inflated. The body features smooth scaleless skin embedded with tiny spines that erect during inflation. The head is large with prominent independently-moving eyes providing exceptional awareness.
The mouth terminates in a powerful beak formed from four fused tooth plates that grow continuously and must be worn down through crushing hard-shelled foods. Coloration features bright green to yellow-green dorsally covered with distinctive black spots, while the ventral surface is white to cream. Color intensity varies with mood and health.
They lack pelvic fins and swim primarily using pectoral fins in a unique helicopter-like motion allowing remarkable maneuverability.
Green Spotted Puffers are native to Southeast Asia including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and surrounding regions. They inhabit brackish estuaries, river mouths, mangrove swamps, and coastal waters where freshwater rivers meet the ocean. They tolerate varying salinity from nearly fresh to full marine, moving between different salinity zones.
Natural habitats feature murky water, dense vegetation, mangrove roots, and muddy substrates. Water is typically warm at 75-82°F. They hunt small invertebrates, crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish, using their powerful beaks to crush shells.
Green Spotted Puffers display semi-aggressive temperaments with strong predatory instincts and territorial behavior. They are notorious fin nippers that attack long-finned or slow-moving tankmates. Multiple puffers may fight though some groups coexist in large tanks with heavy cover.
Despite aggression toward other fish, they display remarkable intelligence and personality toward their keepers, recognizing owners and begging for food. They investigate their environment constantly showing curiosity and distinct individual personalities. Their expressive faces and engaging behavior make them interactive pets despite their challenging temperament.
Green Spotted Puffers require minimum 30 gallons for a single adult, with 40-55 gallons preferred. Multiple puffers need 55+ gallons with heavy cover. The tank must be brackish with specific gravity 1.
005-1. 020 maintained using marine aquarium salt. Substrate can be sand or fine gravel.
Provide numerous hiding spots using rocks, driftwood, and PVC pipes. Live plants are challenging due to salinity though some brackish-tolerant species work. Filtration must be robust given their messy eating and waste production.
Secure covers are essential as puffers can jump. Regular water changes of 25-30% weekly maintain quality. Salinity must be matched during water changes.
Green Spotted Puffers require brackish water with specific gravity 1. 005-1. 020 maintained consistently using marine aquarium salt.
pH should be 7. 5-8. 5 with 7.
8-8. 2 optimal. Temperature 76-80°F is ideal.
They tolerate hardness variations but prefer moderately hard water (8-20 dGH). Ammonia and nitrite must be 0 ppm, nitrate below 40 ppm. Young puffers tolerate lower salinity but adults need higher salinity for long-term health.
Maintain stable parameters avoiding sudden changes. Test salinity weekly with hydrometer or refractometer. Water changes require matching temperature and salinity.
Green Spotted Puffers are generally hardy when provided proper brackish conditions but face specific health challenges.
With proper care they live 10-15 years.
Green Spotted Puffers are strict carnivores requiring varied diet emphasizing hard-shelled foods for beak maintenance. Feed live or frozen snails (ramshorn, pond, mystery snails), clams, mussels, krill, shrimp, bloodworms, and white mosquito larvae. Offer hard-shelled foods 3-4 times weekly to wear down beaks.
Feed once or twice daily in amounts consumed in 2-3 minutes. They are messy eaters requiring removal of uneaten food. Avoid processed foods, flakes, or feeder fish.
Puffers recognize feeding times and keepers, begging enthusiastically. Signs of proper nutrition include healthy beak maintenance, vibrant coloration, active behavior, and appropriate body condition.
Tankmate selection is challenging due to fin-nipping and aggression. Suitable companions must be fast-moving, short-finned brackish species like scats, monos, archerfish, bumblebee gobies, and some mollies. Avoid long-finned, slow, or small fish.
Multiple puffers may coexist in large heavily-decorated tanks though aggression is common. Best kept alone or with carefully selected brackish species. Breeding in captivity is extremely rare with few documented successes.
Requires perfect water conditions, compatible pairs, and unknown triggers. Males guard eggs but survival is very low. Virtually all specimens are wild-caught with home breeding essentially impossible.