In the shaded rivers and backwaters of Thailand, Malaysia, and Sumatra, the Dragon Puffer holds its ground among driftwood and fallen leaves. Every movement is deliberate, every strike calculated. To keep one is to recreate that quiet world of soft light, slow water, and calm intent.

Hidden among the stones of the Mekong, Pao baileyi waits in silence. Motionless for hours, it blends with the riverbed until the moment it strikes: swift, precise, and absolute. In the aquarium, it brings that same patience and power, a fish that rewards understanding rather than spectacle.

This care sheet is written with the aim of providing the optimal care for this species of fish. Pufferfish Enthusiasts Worldwide endeavours to i nspire and promote the highest standards of care - not basic or minimum care - using the best evidence available at the time. Introduction The Pao suvattii  is one of the Mekong’s most formidable and enigmatic freshwater puffers, a species that captures both the quiet patience and sudden violence of life on the riverbed. Endemic to t