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Puffer Fishes
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Blackspotted Puffer Fish
(Arothron nigropunctatus)
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Tank: Fish-only or live rock-based fish-only system. Provide 120 gallons or larger and should be kept singly.
Aquarium Behavior: This is a fairly peaceful fish and can be kept with many species with very little problems.
Maximum Length: 13 in
Food & Diet: A true omnivore that consumes hard coral tips, crustaceans, molluscs, and algae. Provide algae in a clip to satisfy its browsing instincts, in addition provide this guy essential nutrition.
Reef Compatibility: Not reef safe and will consume ornamental crustaceans.
Quick Notes: The blackspotted Puffer is also known as "dog-faced," and will reward you with hardiness and longevity. This species will look after itself even though some may appear shy at first.
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Hawaiian Spotted Puffer Fish
(Canthigaster jactator)
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Tank: Fish-only or live rock-based fish-only system with plenty of swimming room. Provide a minimum of 53 gallons and should be kept singly.
Aquarium Behavior: Has a reputation for nipping at the fins or larger fish. However, many are quite peaceful.
Maximum Length: 3.5 in
Food & Diet: Provide shellfish, brineshrimp, mysis, and any other meaty foods that will accept. Offer dried algae on a clip.
Reef Compatibility: Do not house with ornamental shrimp, other crustaceans, or invertebrates used as cleaners in live rock-based set ups. May nip at soft tissue.
Quick Notes: Sharpnosed puffer fishes are sometimes known as tobies and are generally much smaller then other puffer fish. Be sure to avoid fish with cloudy eyes.
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Valentini Puffer Fish
(Canthigaster valentini)
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Tank: Fish-only or live rock-based fish-only. Provide 40 gallons and can be kept in pairs or small groups of one male and several females. Males are larger and less tolerant of members of the same species. If you are unsure of the sex, keep it singly.
Aquarium Behavior: May nip at small or delicate fish such as lionfishes.
Maximum Length: 4.3 in; females about 3 in.
Food & Diet: Provide a variety diet such as dried algae, enriched brineshrimp, mysis, chopped and whole shellfish.
Reef Compatibility: Cannot be trusted with most housed in reef setups such as corals, sessile invertebrates, ornamental shrimp and tubeworms. May nip at bivalves.
Quick Notes: Should not be kept with long-finned species as it will nip at them. Small fish such as damselfishes, tangs, and boisterous wrasses can prove trouble for this species.
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Honeycomb Spiny Burrfish
(Chilomycterus antillarum)
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Tank: Fish-only. Provide 120 gallons or larger. Should be kept singly but can be housed with species of its own kind in bigger tanks.
Aquarium Behavior: Smaller fish can be consumed by this species.
Maximum Length: 12 in
Food & Diet: Provide brineshrimp and mysis until they are feeding readily, then increase the range of food.
Reef Compatibility: Do not house with any invertebrates.
Quick Notes: Can be a problem to maintain in the aquarium due to their apparent reluctance to feed on commonly available marine foods. Be sure they are feeding before you buy. Larger individuals will not settle at all and you may need to entice them to feed with large live shrimp.
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Porcupine Puffer Fish
(Diodon holocanthus)
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Tank: Fish-only or live rock-based fish-only systems. Provide 120 gallons or larger and should be kept singly due to their high demands to filtration systems. If paired best kept in a sufficiently larger system.
Aquarium Behavior: Will consume and attack smaller fish. Provide tank mates that are not small enough to be eaten.
Maximum Length: 18 in
Food & Diet: Meaty foods such as whole shellfish, prawns, shrimp, and bivalve molluscs. Leave shells on.
Reef Compatibility: Not safe with invertebrates, may nip at sessile invertebrates. Shrimp, hermit crabs, and bivalve molluscs are all part of its natural diet.
Quick Notes: This species grows quickly so be sure for long-term requirements. Avoid species with cloudy eyes.
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