Pea Puffer (Dwarf Puffer) Carinotetraodon travancoricus Pea Puffers, also known as bumble puffers, dwarf puffers, and pygmy puffers, are the smallest pufferfish in the world and are readily available in the aquarium trade. Their temperament, given that they can be territorial, mostly depends on how well set up their home aquarium is. If given proper space, foliage to swim around in, and areas to claim as their own territory, they can be great tank mates. If they are not provided well enough aggression may spark and cause them to act out toward each other and other tank mates. You can keep one in a well-made tank of 5g, but if adding more puffers or other smaller peaceful fish, they must be put into a larger set up. A general rule is to add 3 gallons per extra added puffer, making a 10g tank for example, a good home for three puffers if given the right environment. Males have a deeper coloration with a stripe or dot on their belly, and females will have a more yellow colored body and rounder in shape. Pea Puffers are carnivores, so their diet should include frozen food such as bloodworms and brine shrimp, though there are some dry foods available that are made to mimic live food, and they are known to eat that as well. They will also feast upon invertebrates such as shrimps and snails, so if you have a pest snail problem they will gladly help that issue.Pea Puffers grow to a maximum size of 1 .5 inches so they can go into a 5g tank but a 10g tank is optimal for their health and happiness. They prefer their water temperatures to be between 72-82oF, pH between 7.0-8.0, and dKH between 5-15.
Daisy's Rice Fish Oryzias woworae Daisy's Rice Fish are very small, peaceful fish that are perfect additions to smaller sized aquariums. These fish because of their size, should be kept with other similarly sized fish in a peaceful environment that is well planted alongside pieces of driftwood and smooth rocks. They are a very outgoing fish and love to school with each other, so a recommended minimum grouping of 6 or more is recommended for the best coloration and activity to be seen. Male Rice Fish have a shimmery blue body with red highlights in their fins, while female Rice Fish with a slightly more yellow color body with orange highlighting. They are omnivores and will thrive with a varied diet of high quality flake food, pellets, and freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex. They will also appreciate being given vegetable matter. Daisy's Rice Fish grow to a max size of just over 1 inch, so a school of at least 6 fish is ideal in a 10g minimum tank. They prefer their water temperatures between 73-80oF and a pH between 6.0-7.5.
Black-lined Silver Hatchetfish Gasteropelecus sternicla Hatchetfish are fun little fish, loved for their unique body shape that brings something new into the home aquarium. Their peaceful disposition makes them great tank mates for the planted community tank and do even better when schooling together in groups of at least 6. Hatchetfish are carnivores, so providing floating foods like freeze dried bloodworms/tubifex, meaty frozen food, and high-quality flake food is a must. Silver Hatchetfish reach a maximum size of 2", and since they prefer to be in schools they are better fitted for aquariums of at least 20g. They like their temperature around 73-79oF, their pH between 6.0-7.0, and a dKH between 8-12.
Rainbow Shiner Notropis chrosomus Rainbow Shiners are brightly colored friendly fish that are a great addition to the community aquarium. Their flashy colors are most prominent during the mating season, and even more-so in males. They occupy the top and middle levels of the water column, minding their own business when sharing the space with other peaceful fish. They are omnivores who are not particularly picky, so to maintain the best coloration they should be fed a varied diet for flake food and frozen shrimp. Rainbow Shiners tend to reach a maximum size of 2-1/2" and love to exist in schooling numbers, so for schools of at least 6 being perfect for 15g tanks. They are a very hardy fish that can withstand a wide range of parameters. Because they are a native to the Southeastern United States, they may be kept in water that is room temperature 68-74oF at the lowest end of the spectrum, and 75-76oF at the highest. Their pH should be maintained between 6.5-8.0 and their dKH between 2-15.
