{"product_id":"freshwater-fahaka-pufferfish-tetraodon-lineatus","title":"Freshwater Fahaka Pufferfish | Tetraodon lineatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Fahaka, or Nile Puffer, is a giant freshwater pufferfish with enormous personality and a serious set of beak-like teeth. Reaching around 40–45 cm, it is intelligent, interactive and utterly a wet pet — but it is aggressive, must be kept entirely alone, and needs crunchy, shelled foods to keep its ever-growing teeth worn down. This is a fish for the committed, experienced keeper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWidespread across the Nile and other major river systems of Africa, including the Niger, Volta, Gambia and Lake Turkana. It inhabits vegetated margins and open channels of large rivers and lakes, hunting snails, molluscs and crustaceans across the bottom.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA large, elongated puffer with a patterned back of dark and yellow banding over a pale belly, big expressive eyes and constantly working fins. When threatened it can inflate dramatically with water. Colour and pattern shift with mood, age and health.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHighly aggressive and intolerant of any tankmate — it will bite chunks from other fish and is a strict species-only animal. It must be housed completely alone. Even so, it becomes remarkably tame toward its keeper, begging and following at the glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA hard-shelled carnivore (molluscivore). It must be offered crunchy, shelled foods such as snails, whole mussels, cockles, prawns in shell and the occasional crab leg to grind down its continuously growing teeth. Without this, the teeth overgrow and can prevent feeding, sometimes requiring trimming.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a very large tank with a soft sandy substrate, powerful filtration and pristine, well-oxygenated water — puffers are scaleless, sensitive to poor water quality and produce a heavy waste load. Smooth rocks and driftwood give visual breaks. Keep a secure lid, as they are strong and messy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding in the aquarium is extremely rare and not commercially practised. In the wild, eggs are scattered over the substrate and left; the immense adult size and solitary aggression make home breeding impractical.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTetraodon lineatus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFahaka Puffer (Nile Puffer)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAfrica (Nile, Niger, Volta, Gambia and other river systems)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40–45 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAggressive (keep strictly solo)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e470 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e700+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (shelled\/hard foods)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–15 dGH (medium)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge species-only aquariums for experienced keepers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo (will disturb and bite plants; best kept minimally planted)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNone. The Fahaka is a strict species-only fish and must be kept entirely alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll other fish and invertebrates — any tankmate will be bitten, maimed or eaten. Do not attempt community housing under any circumstances.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232883786019,"sku":"BA8958","price":350.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232883818787,"sku":"BA8958-M","price":400.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232883851555,"sku":"BA8958-L","price":460.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-40cm)","offer_id":55351970824483,"sku":"BA8958-XL","price":530.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/freshwater-fahaka-pufferfish-43091606503715-lv.webp?v=1790307470","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/freshwater-fahaka-pufferfish-tetraodon-lineatus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}