Do Pea Puffers Eat Shrimp? A Detailed Look at the Puffer’s Diet

Pea puffers are quirky little fish that have recently surged in popularity in the aquarium hobby. Their small size, unique appearance, and voracious appetites make them appealing additions to nano tanks and species setups. However, one question that often comes up for pea puffer owners and prospective buyers is whether these little predators will eat ornamental shrimp. In this in-depth article, we’ll take a close look at the pea puffer’s dietary habits and analyse the evidence on both sides of the debate.

Before we dive into the shrimp question, let’s take a quick look at the basics of pea puffer biology and behaviour.

Pea puffers, whose scientific name is Carinotetraodon travancoricus, are small freshwater fish native to stagnant waters across Southeast Asia. They get their common name from their rounded body shape and greenish colouration which gives them a resemblance to peas. Mature adults reach lengths of only 1.5-2.5 cm.

These little fish are aggressive hunters that pack a surprising amount of attitude into their tiny bodies. They have sharp beak-like mouths designed for crunching through the shells of snails and other small invertebrates. Pea puffers are not schooling fish – they are better kept singly or in pairs in most cases.

In terms of diet, pea puffers are opportunistic predators that will eat just about anything they can capture and fit into their mouths. Their natural diet consists of small crustaceans insect larvae, worms, and molluscs. This gives them a reputation as voracious hunters in home aquariums.

The Debate: Do Pea Puffers Eat Shrimp?

This brings us to the key question – with their rapacious appetites and lightning-quick reflexes, will pea puffers view ornamental shrimp as prey?

Overall, the evidence suggests that yes, pea puffers will readily eat small shrimp in most cases. Their natural behaviour is to consume any animal protein they can capture, and shrimp are no exception.

However, there are some important caveats to consider:

• Shrimp size matters – Pea puffers have small mouths and can only manage shrimp up to a certain size. Large adult Amano shrimp or bamboo shrimp are probably safe. But smaller varieties like cherry shrimp or ghost shrimp will almost certainly become expensive puffer treats.

• Individual personality plays a role – Not all pea puffers are equally aggressive. Some individuals may essentially ignore shrimp while others will voraciously hunt them. There is no way to know temperament for sure until you observe the puffer’s behaviour.

• Tank conditions influence behaviour – In aquariums with plentiful alternative foods and lots of plant cover for shrimp to hide in, pea puffers seem less inclined to go shrimp hunting. But in sparse tanks they will view shrimp as easy targets.

• Well-fed puffers may ignore shrimp – Pea puffers on a rich diet of snails, bloodworms, and other meaty foods sometimes disregard shrimp. But hungry puffers are merciless shrimp predators.

Personal Experiences: Aquarists Chime In

To get a better sense of how this issue plays out “in the trenches”, let’s look at some firsthand experiences and advice from aquarists who have tried this combination:

• “I put 5 cherry shrimp in my planted 10 gallon pea puffer tank. The puffers totally ignored them for about 2 weeks. Then one day, bam – no more shrimp.”

• “I’ve had luck keeping pea puffers with Amano shrimp. They don’t bother my adult Amanos at all. But I’m sure they would annihilate any smaller shrimp.”

• “Don’t do it! I lost about $50 worth of blue velvet shrimp overnight to my two little pea puffer maniacs.”

• “I’ve kept pea puffers with ghost shrimp. The puffers definitely ate a few, but they also left many of the larger adults alone. It was kind of a stalemate situation.”

• “Pea puffers + shrimp = a recipe for emptying your wallet. Just don’t risk it – these little monsters are shrimp-munching machines.”

The general consensus from experienced aquarists seems to be that it’s quite risky to mix pea puffers and shrimp. The puffers’ predatory instincts mean they will likely view shrimp as tasty snacks. However, with careful selection of shrimp species and plenty of hiding spots, it’s not impossible in some cases.

Tips for Keeping Shrimp Safe from Pea Puffers

If you want to experiment with adding shrimp to your puffer aquarium, here are some tips to minimise losses:

• Choose larger shrimp species like Amano shrimp rather than small varieties like cherry shrimp.

• Provide plenty of dense plant cover and driftwood with hiding spots. This gives shrimp places to escape to and breaks up lines of sight.

• Arrange hardscape to create visual barriers in open areas of the tank. Rocks, cholla wood, and similar items can obstruct hunting paths.

• Feed your puffers well with protein-rich foods like bloodworms before introducing shrimp. A stuffed puffer is less likely to hunt.

• Monitor behaviour closely at first and be prepared to remove shrimp if the puffers become fixated on hunting them.

• Introduce shrimp gradually in small numbers first rather than dumping a huge population into the tank all at once.

Even with these precautions, there is no guarantee of success. The shrimp will likely experience some predation losses either way. But careful aquascaping and observation of puffer behaviour can improve the odds.

Alternative Tank Mates for Pea Puffers

Rather than gambling with shrimp as tank mates, there are safer options to consider:

• Snails – Pea puffers love snacking on small pest snails. Ramshorn, bladder, and Malaysian trumpet snails make good puffer fare.

• Otocinclus catfish – These peaceful algae eaters mostly ignore puffers and mind their own business. Their armoured bodies and quickness keep them safe.

• Corydoras catfish – Most cory species are too large and fast for the tiny puffers to bother. Bottom-dwelling cories have compatible habits.

• Crossbanded pencilfish – These active midwater swimmers largely avoid puffer attention. Their schooling behaviour is interesting to watch.

• Pygmy corydoras – Tiny bottom-dwelling cory cats that inhabit a zone puffers mostly ignore. Their small size and armour keeps them safe.

To wrap up, pea puffers are certainly capable of eating small ornamental shrimp, especially species under 2 cm in size. Their instincts drive them to consume any animal protein they can capture. However, with careful tank setup and close observation of individual puffer behaviour, some aquarists have succeeded in keeping certain shrimp like Amanos or larger ghost shrimp with pea puffers.

The consensus remains that mixing puffers and shrimp is inherently high-risk. Any shrimp added to a pea puffer tank should be considered as potentially expensive puffer food. Care is needed when selecting shrimp species and providing plenty of hiding places and line-of-sight breaks.

For risk-averse aquarists looking for better tank mate options, various snails, catfish, and schooling fish make safer companions for pea puffers. With some prudent planning, you can have an engaging pea puffer setup without gambling on shrimp as prey.

Ultimately, pea puffers will act in accordance with their predatory nature. While they can potentially coexist with shrimp in some cases, their instincts drive them to eat anything small enough to fit in their mouths. So plan carefully and observe puffer behaviour closely before attempting this combination in your tank. A cautious approach is warranted to avoid an expensive shrimp buffet!