Thai Puffer - (Pao barbatus)

Fish Details, Description and Information Below:

🐟 Thai Puffer – (Pao barbatus) – Freshwater Pufferfish with Bold Personality for Sale

The Thai Puffer (Pao barbatus) is a medium-sized freshwater pufferfish native to rivers and streams of Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand. Known for its distinct mottled brown-and-yellow pattern, strong beak-like mouth, and alert, intelligent behavior, the Thai Puffer is both beautiful and interactive. Like other puffers, it’s best suited for a species-only aquarium due to its aggressive and territorial nature. This is a hardy, active, and curious fish that will quickly learn to recognize and interact with its owner.

🔎 Quick Facts – Thai Puffer (Pao barbatus)

📛 Common Name: Thai Puffer
🔬 Scientific Name: Pao barbatus
🌍 Origin: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia)
🎨 Appearance: Mottled brown, tan, and yellow body; rounded shape with bright, expressive eyes
📏 Max Size: 6–7 inches (15–18 cm)
💎 Availability: Occasionally available; popular among experienced puffer keepers

😇 Behavior & Temperament

⚔️ Aggressive; best kept alone
🐟 Highly intelligent; recognizes its owner and follows movement
🌿 Will explore every inch of its tank and interact with décor

🏠 Aquarium & Tank Requirements

📦 Minimum Tank Size: 40+ gallons for a single specimen
🪵 Provide caves, driftwood, and hiding spaces for security
🪨 Sand or smooth gravel substrate to prevent injury
💡 Moderate lighting with open swimming space

💧 Water Parameters – Thai Puffer Care

🌡️ Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
⚗️ pH: 6.5–7.8
💧 Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water

🍽️ Diet – Carnivorous Pufferfish

🐟 Hard-shelled foods such as snails, mussels, and clams to prevent overgrown teeth
🦐 Frozen krill, shrimp, and bloodworms for variety
🚫 Avoid feeding only soft foods to maintain proper beak length

📋 Thai Puffer Overview Table

Feature	Details
🌍 Origin	Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia)
📏 Max Size	6–7 inches
😇 Temperament	Aggressive, solitary
🏠 Tank Size	40+ gallons
⚗️ pH Range	6.5–7.8
🌡️ Temperature	75–82°F
🍽️ Diet	Carnivorous – snails, mussels, shrimp, krill
🎯 Ideal For	Species-only aquariums, experienced pufferfish keepers

✨ Highlight:
The Thai Puffer is an intelligent and visually striking freshwater pufferfish with a bold personality, perfect for aquarists seeking a highly interactive single-specimen display.