Tetradon lineatus Linnaeus 1758

Common name: Nile Puffer / Fahaka Puffer / Lined Puffer

This African freshwater puffer can attain a size of 18", but will usually only grow to around the 12" mark in captivity. It has pale green / grey body with darker horizontal bands that run the length of the body, its belly is a pale yellow however the coloration of the fish does vary.

Of all the freshwater puffers the Lineatus will not tolerate either its own kind or any tankmates, it is the most aggressive puffer I have come across, and after keeping several specimens over the years, have found that they are only suitable as a single specimen in a species tank. They will attack and harass any other tankmates including fish much larger than themselves, so when keeping even young Lineatus they must be kept alone. Care must also be taken when you are doing routine maintenance within the tank, as the Lineatus will react to any intrusion of its territory, and even small specimens inflict a painful bite.

As the Lineatus does get large, a tank of around 4' x 2' x 2' would be a minimum requirement for a single specimen, together with a powerful external filter to cope with the waste this fish produces.

As for the tank I use a sand substrate and furnish it with Java Fern planted on bogwood with several other plants that are planted in terracotta pots.

The ideal temperature is between 75-80°C and it will eat almost anything, I feed mine on cockle, mussel, earthworms and apple snails which are very easy to breed,

I have also found that mine will readily accept carnivore pellets as well.

They must be fed some whole cockle, or any other type of shellfish as the puffer will need to break the shells, in order to feed and this helps to keep the puffers beak worn down, failure to offer this in its diet will mean that the beak will get overgrown and should this occur the fish will be unable to eat properly, and will eventually die.

This fish does get more impressive as it grows and once settled does get to know its owner, the striking colouration and general interest it generates makes all the negatives of keeping this puffer worthwhile.

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