Breeding the pea puffer
Spawns among plants or moss in a heavily planted tank; pairs or one male with several females work best, and the male may guard the eggs.
Step by step
Group in planted tank.
Heavily planted tank.
Warm water, live food.
Few eggs: most spawns yield ten or fewer, often 1-5 per day over several days; eggs are non-sticky and hatch in about 4.5-5 days.
Microworms then snails.
- Aggression
- No hides
- Poor food
Male or female
Mature males have a dark line along the belly that females lack, and often iridescent 'wrinkle' markings behind the eye; females are rounder.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Takes some experience.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for open substrate spawners
- 21 days beforeLet a pair form
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
- Day 0Spawning
The pair cleans the stone and lays rows of eggs. Both guard them.
- Day 3Eggs hatch
Wrigglers hatch in 2–4 days and are moved to pits by the parents.
- Day 7Free swimming
Feed baby brine shrimp several times a day. Parents often herd the fry.
- Day 42Grow-out
Move fry to a grow-out tank before the parents spawn again.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.