Eyespot Pufferfish (Dichotomyctere ocellatus)

Eyespot Pufferfish Dichotomyctere ocellatus
Name	Eyespot Pufferfish
Name Lat.	Dichotomyctere ocellatus
Synonym	Tetraodon biocellatus
Family	Puffers
Family lat.	Tetraodontidae
Order	Puffers & Filefishes
Order lat.	Tetraodontiformes
Origin	Southeast Asia
Habitat	Streams, rivers
Diet	Carnivore
pH	6.5-7.5
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Individual, group
Care Level	Difficult
Reproduction	Egg scatterer
Breeding	None reported
Life Span	8-10 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	6-8 cm
Temperature	22-26 °C
Hardness	5-20 °dH
Aquarium	~ 200 l
US Units
Size	2.4"-3"
Temperature	72-79 °F
Hardness	89-356 ppm
Aquarium	~ 50 gal

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of the Eye Spot Pufferfish is Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia. There they live mainly in the freshwater of coastal, slow-flowing waters with dense underwater vegetation, but also occur in the brackish water of estuaries.

Maintenance

They need an aquarium with dense border and background planting, with branched roots as hiding places as well as sufficient swimming space. A fine sandy substrate, subdued light (floating plants) and medium hard, slightly alkaline water is ideal.

No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.

Diet

They are food specialists, eating almost exclusively crustaceans and snails. They also need the hard shells to wear down their teeth. The food supply consists of live snails as well as shrimps, crayfish, red mosquito larvae, artemia and mysis, which is also easily accepted frozen, supplemented with small mussels and mussel meat. Rarely flake or granulated food is accepted.

It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day, which are eaten within a few minutes. A regular and varied diet promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They behave intra-species territorial, therefore several animals should be maintained only in large and richly structured tanks. They can be well socialized with other, not too small fish. Caution is advised with long finned fish, as they tend to fin pluck.

Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water condition and water temperature should be socialized.

Sex dimorphism

The sexes are difficult to distinguish. The females grow larger and are stockier than the males.

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.

Important

Eye spot puffers can be kept well in freshwater. However, soft water is not well tolerated and makes them susceptible to disease. For water hardening, the addition of 2-10 g sea salt (mineral salt) per liter of water from the pet store is recommended.

When threatened, they can inflate to 2-3 times their size by filling their elastic stomach with air or water

A cup filled with aquarium water should be used for transferring or placing the animals so that they do not become airborne.

The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels should be checked at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the contaminant level has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: petdata

Source: BMEL (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); RIEHL & BAENSCH (2006): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF