Tetraodon miurus(Congo
puffer) Boulenger, 1802
*aka: no
aliases listed
T.
miurus, the Congo puffer. Note the position of its eyes and the range
of body coloration.
Origin
Congo Basin (central
Africa)
pH Range
7.0
Temp.
75 - 82F (24
- 28C)
Hardness
5 - 15dH
Salinity
freshwater
Length
to 6 inches (15
cm)
Diet
Live, some frozen
(worms)
T. miurusis
a freshwater puffer found in the larger rivers (and sometimes rapids) of
central Africa. These puffers prefer sandy bottoms, since they like
to bury themselves up to their eyes. It will spend much of its time
this way, as they have evolved an almost dorsal placement to their eyes.
Their diet consists of invertebrates (such as worms and the like) and the
occasional crustacean. The Congo puffer is capable of wide color
changes (possibly to adapt to the color of the aquatic floor) ranging from
dark browns to greenish-brown to an almost yellow or orange hue.
This is
an highly aggressive puffer, lying in wait until something tasty passes
by.
If you are able, it should be fed feeder guppies and live ghost shrimp.
Tankmates, if it is to have any, should be considerably larger. I
personally would not put any other fish into its tank, unless it is to
become food. T. miurus is best kept in a freshwater aquarium with
a deep, sandy substrate. Large rocks are appreciated as well, since
the Congo puffer will often mimic them.
If you are
into aggressive fish, this one's definitely for you!
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