{"product_id":"amazon-puffer-colomesus-asellus-freshwater","title":"Amazon Puffer (Colomesus asellus)","description":"\u003cstyle\u003e\n  .aq-pd{font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;margin:0 auto;line-height:1.7;}\n  .aq-pd h3{margin:18px 0 4px;font-size:1.1em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:9px;}\n  .aq-pd p{margin:0.5em 0 1em;}\n  .aq-pd ul{margin:0.4em 0 1em;padding-left:1.2em;}\n  .aq-pd li{margin:0.35em 0;}\n  .aq-specs-table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin-top:0.6em;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:0.93em;}\n  .aq-specs-table th{background:#1a1a1a;color:#fff;text-align:left;padding:9px 14px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:0.04em;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:0.82em;}\n  .aq-specs-table td{padding:8px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid #BBDEFB;vertical-align:top;}\n  .aq-specs-table tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#f5faff;}\n  .aq-specs-table td:first-child{font-weight:600;width:42%;color:#444;}\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"aq-pd\"\u003e\n\n  \u003cdiv style=\"background:#E3F2FD;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAmazon Puffer\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eColomesus asellus\u003c\/em\u003e) is one of the only true freshwater puffers in the hobby, a big-eyed, banded little character with far more personality than its three-inch size suggests. Unlike most puffers, which need brackish or marine water, the Amazon Puffer lives its entire life in freshwater, and it is one of the rare puffers happy to live in a group. It is an active, curious, intermediate-care fish. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003efreshwater fish\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003eAmazon Puffers are constant, energetic swimmers, so give them a long tank with open room, ideally 30 gallons or more for a small group. They are one of the few puffers that actually do better in numbers: a group of four to six spreads out their energy and reduces nipping. Keep the water warm and clean at 74 to 82 F, pH 6.5 to 7.5, with strong filtration since puffers are messy eaters. The single most important rule is diet: their beak grows continuously and must be worn down with hard-shelled foods like snails and clams, or it will overgrow and stop them from eating. Like all puffers they are scaleless, so introduce them to an established tank and dose any medications with extra care.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003ctable class=\"aq-specs-table\"\u003e\n    \u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSpecification\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n    \u003ctbody\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAmazon Puffer (also South American Puffer)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cem\u003eColomesus asellus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAmazon and Tapajos river basins, South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCare Level\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive (peaceful for a puffer, can nip)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdult Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 3 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 gallons for a small group\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e74 to 82 F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5 to 7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore, needs hard-shelled foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater (100% freshwater, no salt needed)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n  \u003c\/table\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003eAmazon Puffers are happiest kept together in a group of their own kind, which is unusual and one of the best things about them. For tankmates, choose fast, robust fish that can hold their own and will not be nipped. Avoid slow or long-finned fish, and remember that puffers will hunt and eat shrimp and small snails, so they are not a good fit for a shrimp tank or a prized snail collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003eTreat smaller snails as food rather than tankmates: a steady supply is exactly what keeps a puffer's beak healthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003eFeed a varied carnivore diet, and make sure hard-shelled items are a regular part of it to wear down the beak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eHard-shelled snails are the classic puffer snack: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/japanese-trapdoor-snail-viviparus-malleattus-freshwater\"\u003eJapanese Trapdoor Snails\u003c\/a\u003e and small \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/racetrack-nerite-snail-vittina-sp-freshwater\"\u003enerite snails\u003c\/a\u003e help keep the teeth trimmed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eRound out the diet with frozen and meaty foods like bloodworms, clams, and mussels.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eStock up on cleanup snails from our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-invertebrates\"\u003efreshwater invertebrates\u003c\/a\u003e collection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eSee another fun species, the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/puffer-indian-pea\"\u003eIndian Pea Puffer\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it really 100% freshwater?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. Most puffers need brackish or saltwater, but the Amazon Puffer is a true freshwater species and needs no added salt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I keep more than one?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, and you should. It is one of the few shoaling puffers and does best in a small group of four to six.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy does it need snails and hard food?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA puffer's beak grows continuously. Crunching hard-shelled foods keeps it filed down so the fish can keep eating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it safe with shrimp and other fish?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt will eat shrimp and small snails and can nip fins, so choose fast, robust tankmates and skip the inverts you want to keep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48875293278427,"sku":"FW1-F6852","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/image_9c8484d4-6375-4a24-8343-28c0e3d47e7e.png?v=1781456868","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/amazon-puffer-colomesus-asellus-freshwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}