CheckMyFishTankRed Eye Puffer care
Carinotetraodon lorteti · Freshwater · Advanced level care
A small, bold freshwater puffer that needs a species tank.
Feeding
Once a day. A few pellets or a couple of frozen items per fish that are gone in a few minutes. Live or frozen snails, frozen foods, shrimp.
Nips the fins of slow fish with long fins.
Eats fish small enough to fit in its mouth.
Eats shrimp and snails.
Claims a territory and guards it.
Good tank mates
Fish that pass every check with Red Eye Puffer in a 60 gallon tank: same water, overlapping temperature, nobody gets eaten and no bullies.
Do not mix with
- Green Neon Tetra: Red Eye Puffer grows big enough to eat Green Neon Tetra.
- Ember Tetra: Red Eye Puffer grows big enough to eat Ember Tetra.
- Tinfoil Barb: Tinfoil Barb grows big enough to eat Red Eye Puffer.
- Celestial Pearl Danio: Red Eye Puffer grows big enough to eat Celestial Pearl Danio.
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow: White Cloud Mountain Minnow and Red Eye Puffer need different water temperatures.
- Chili Rasbora: Red Eye Puffer grows big enough to eat Chili Rasbora.
- Endler's Livebearer: Red Eye Puffer grows big enough to eat Endler's Livebearer.
- Oscar: Oscar grows big enough to eat Red Eye Puffer.
Questions
What size tank does a Red Eye Puffer need?
At least 30 gallons. Adults grow to about 3 inches, so plan for the adult size, not the size at the store.
What temperature does a Red Eye Puffer like?
74 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of about 6.5 to 7.5. A steady temperature matters more than hitting one exact number.
How many Red Eye Puffer should I keep together?
Keep only one. Red Eye Puffer fight their own kind.
What do Red Eye Puffer eat?
Live or frozen snails, frozen foods, shrimp. Feed once a day: a few pellets or a couple of frozen items per fish that are gone in a few minutes.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-11-10. When sources disagree we use the safer number.