ドワーフフグ

Dwarf Puffer Fish (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) is a member of Tetraodontidae and Carinotetraodon, originating in Kerala, India. Its members on the market include C. borneensis, C. imitator, C. irrubesco, and C. lorteti; among them, Dwarf Puffer Fish and C. imitator are the most common ones. The shape and body color of C. imitator are very similar to the ones of Dwarf Puffer Fish, so C. imitator is often sold in the name of Dwarf Puffer Fish; only through slight differences in stripes can distinguish them. Take C. imitator for example, there are two horizontally-distributed black spots on its caudal peduncle and an independent small spot at the base of caudal fin; however, Dwarf Puffer Fish only has a short horizontal black band on its caudal peduncle, which extends to its caudal fin. Still, both Dwarf Puffer Fish and C. imitator are shy puffer fish that requires more shelters or lush water plants. It is very easy to keep Dwarf Puffer Fish and currently many successful reproduction cases happened in aquariums around the world. In terms of sex, the male Dwarf Puffer Fish has a distinct black band from the throat to the mouth and distinct “crow’s feet” near its eyes, while the female doesn’t have these characteristics. Because of its cute appearance and petite size, Dwarf Puffer Fish has attracted many aquarium lovers. In addition, its habit of eating snails makes it an indispensable tool fish for removing snails in aquatic plant tanks.