Figure-8 / Eyespot Puffer (Dichotomyctere ocellatus)

Figure-8 / Eyespot Puffer (Dichotomyctere ocellatus)

Quarantined specialty puffer for carefully planned freshwater aquariums in Canada.

The Figure-8 Puffer, also called the Eyespot Puffer, is a small, expressive pufferfish known for its yellow-brown pattern and figure-8 style markings. It is not a standard community fish and is best planned as a brackish or specialty puffer setup.

Why This Fish Stands Out

• Highly interactive oddball fish with strong personality
• Specialty species for aquarists who want behaviour, not just colour
• Best for a planned species-focused aquarium rather than a casual community tank

Aquarium Setup & Behaviour

Provide a mature, strongly filtered aquarium with stable water, hiding places, and careful long-term planning. Many keepers plan this species around low-end brackish conditions; do not treat it as a simple freshwater community fish.

May nip fins and should be kept only with carefully selected tankmates, if any.

Feeding

Puffers need a varied meaty diet and should not be treated as flake-food community fish. Offer snails and other hard foods for beak wear, along with varied meaty foods.

Natural Colour & Livestock Integrity

Colour and pattern come from the fish's natural appearance and healthy conditioning. Topick Aquarium does not use dye or hormones to artificially enhance colour.

Topick Aquarium Livestock Standard

All fish at Topick Aquarium are carefully quarantined and conditioned to our stable local tap water before sale. Some oddball and specialty species still have very specific long-term needs, so we recommend matching each fish to the right aquarium size, diet, tankmates, and maintenance routine before purchase.

Care Summary

• Scientific Name: Dichotomyctere ocellatus
• Adult Size: Approximately 6–8 cm
• Care Level: Intermediate to Advanced
• Recommended Tank: Mature aquarium planned around this species' adult size, behaviour, diet, and tankmate compatibility

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Figure-8 Puffer freshwater or brackish?
It is commonly treated as a brackish-water puffer for long-term care, although young fish may be seen in freshwater.

Can it live with community fish?
It is risky because puffers can nip fins, especially with slow or long-finned fish.

Does it need crunchy foods?
Yes. Hard foods help manage continuously growing teeth.

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