Mekong River Puffer (Pao cf. palustris)

An attractive and uncommonly imported freshwater puffer from the Greater Mekong Basin in Thailand and Cambodia, the Mekong River Puffer is typically found in shallow water habitat with significant plant coverage. Like most puffers, they use their sharp, powerful beaks to hunt and eat insects, molluscs, and crustaceans. In the aquarium, they are a relatively hardy species and can usually be kept in a group but as with most puffer species any other tankmates can be risky. In the wild, they feed on snails, clams, and other crustaceans and will require regular feedings with hard-shelled prey items in the aquarium to keep their teeth from overgrowing.