Care Level: Advanced

Temperament: Aggressive

Live Plant Safe: Yes

General Description: The Freshwater [FW] Golden Puffer, also known as the Avacado or Bronze Puffer, has an incredibly large distribution throughout oxygen-rich rivers and streams of Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The Golden puffer, as its name suggests, has a white belly and a yellow-gold back. The body shape of the Golden puffer has evolved to be perfectly adapted to navigating the fast-moving waters in which it originates from, so expect to observe this energetic behavior in the home aquarium. Growing to an adult size of approximately 4-1/2″, the Golden puffer is a manageable freshwater puffer species in terms of its size. However, the Golden puffer does have demanding dietary requirements, limited to zero compatability with other fish species, and some specific aquarium requirements given their activity level. Golden puffers will help control nuisance snails, such as Malaysian Trumpets (Melanoides tuberculata), that come in on live aquatic plants. Note: Golden puffers are known to have a risk of coming down with Ich. All of the Golden puffers for sale here at Aquatics Unlimited have gone through an observational period prior to sale to ensure you’re receiving healthy individuals. This species is infrequently available.

Diet Requirements: In the wild Golden puffers are carnivores. A diet made up of various high quality frozen foods is necessary, including bloodworms, brine shrimp and pieces of mussel or clam. Puffers should also be regularly given snails, or other hard-shelled items, to ensure their teeth do not become overgrown which can cause health complications. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your puffer. This species may ignore freeze-dried foods.

Care Requirements: An established minimum 30 gallon aquarium is ideal for a single Golden puffer. This species should not be introduced into a biologically immature aquarium, as Golden puffers are intolerable of nitrite or ammonia. Weekly water changes are necessary to keep water parameters favorable (Nitrates < 30 ppm). Given the environments in which they come from, Golden puffers like more generous water flow that is typically achieved by the use of additional internal powerheads. The aquarium should be aquascaped with a darker substrate, driftwood, rocks, and dense live vegetation. This type of aquascape not only provides stimulation for these inquisitive fish, but can also create some areas of lower flow for them to rest in. The Golden puffer is too aggressive to mix into a traditional community tank and only one of these fish should be kept per aquarium. In the wild, they are known to predate on small fish and bite at fish scales and fins. While this is a unique species, it is one that truly does best as a solitary specimen. Recommended water conditions, 74-78° F, KH 1-15, pH 6.5-7.5.

Purchase Size: Medium: 2” to 2-1/4”

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.