Congo pufferfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Congo pufferfish |
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Tetrodon miurus |
The Congo puffer (also known as the potato puffer) is a unique freshwater pufferfish. You can find it in parts of the Congo River in Africa, even in fast-moving rapids!
These fish are pretty healthy in the wild. Experts at the IUCN say they are of 'Least Concern'. This means their numbers are good right now.
Congo puffers can grow to about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. They are usually quiet fish. They spend most of their time hidden in sand or other soft ground. They can even change their skin color to match their surroundings! This helps them hide from animals they want to eat.
You can see many different colors of Congo puffers. Some are black, some are sandy, and some are bright red! They won't turn blue, but they will get darker if they are on a dark surface.
Like other fish in the Tetraodon family, the Congo puffer can puff itself up. It fills its body with water or air when it feels scared or stressed. Most pufferfish also have a strong toxin (poison) in their bodies.
Caring for a Congo Puffer
If you want to keep Congo puffers, they need a special tank. The tank should be at least 60 centimeters (24 inches) long, 40 centimeters (16 inches) deep, and 30 centimeters (12 inches) tall.
It's very important to give your Congo puffer a soft, sandy bottom in its tank. The sand should be at least 5 centimeters (2 inches) deep. This lets the fish bury itself, which is a natural behavior for them.
What Do They Eat?
Congo puffers are mostly piscivores. This means they love to eat other fish! They also might eat small amphibians (like frogs).
If you have a Congo puffer as a pet, you should feed it a special diet. About 30% of their food should be frozen freshwater fish that has been thawed. The rest (70%) should be earthworms, cockroaches, and small land isopods (like pill bugs).
