🐡 Figure Eight Pufferfish (Dichotomyctere ocellatus)
Pest Snail Control • Brackish Oddball Fish • Interactive Intelligent Species
 
📋 The Figure 8 Puffer (Dichotomyctere ocellatus) is a small, colorful brackish-water pufferfish recognized by its distinct yellow-green markings forming “figure 8” shapes on its back. With their bright patterns, curious behavior, and intelligence, they make excellent “oddball” aquarium pets.
Unlike the Green Spotted Puffer, which must eventually live in marine water, the Figure 8 Puffer thrives in low-end brackish conditions for life. It’s smaller in size, easier to house, and better suited for aquarists wanting a brackish puffer in a mid-sized tank.
They need a diet rich in hard-shelled foods such as snails and shrimp to wear down their beak-like teeth. Figure 8 Puffers are best kept singly, though some experienced keepers manage them in groups with careful monitoring.
 
💡 Highlights
✨ Bright figure-8 markings – unique yellow-green patterns
⚪ Stays small – max 8 cm, ideal for smaller brackish tanks
📏 Lifelong brackish species – no marine transition needed
✅ Interactive and intelligent – recognizes owner
🐠 Feeds on pest snails & crustaceans – natural controller