Can Pea Puffer Live With Yellow Tang?
Incompatible pH. Pea Puffer needs 7.0–8.0, Yellow Tang needs 8.1–8.4.
Parameter Comparison
| Parameter | Pea Puffer | Yellow Tang | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–82°F | 75–82°F | 75–82°F ✓ |
| pH Range | 7–8 | 8.1–8.4 | No overlap ✗ |
| Temperament | aggressive | semi-aggressive | Aggression risk ✗ |
| Max Size | 1" | 8" | Size mismatch ✗ |
| Min Tank Size | 5 gal | 75 gal | 75 gal minimum together |
| Diet | Carnivore | Herbivore | — |
| Care Level | intermediate | intermediate | — |
Species Profiles
Pea Puffer
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Pea puffers are the smallest freshwater pufferfish in the world, growing to just 1 inch. Despite their tiny size, they have big personalities — they are curious, intelligent, and surprisingly aggressive. They are best kept in species-only tanks and require live or frozen food.
Full care guide →Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
The yellow tang is the most iconic reef tank fish — a solid lemon-yellow disc that constantly grazes algae across the rock work. They are active, hardy, and excellent algae controllers for reef tanks. However, they need large tanks (75+ gallons minimum), can be aggressive toward similar-shaped fish, and have become significantly more expensive following collection bans in Hawaii.
Full care guide →