database.fish

Spotted Puffer (Canthigaster jactator)

Fish Facts

Minimum Tank Size
50 gallons
Full Grown Length
5 inches
Temperament
Peaceful
Reef Compatible
Yes
Diet
Omnivore
Eats Flake Foods
No
Known primarily for their ability to inflate themselves to 2 to 3 times their normal size, Pufferfish are a moderately aggressive, medium sized family of fish. In the wild, they're considered the second most toxic animal on the planet. When raised in captivity, though, they are non-toxic since the toxin that they normally absorb from their environment is not present.

Pufferfish a curious, personable family of fish that require plenty of rock-work to explore. They're not extremely picky eaters and will eat most frozen foods, but they do require multiple feedings each day. It's possible to house them in a reef tank but there's a decent chance that they'll pick at coral in the tank and eat smaller fish and vertebrae like shrimps and crabs.

Puffing up doesn't actually hurt the fish, but it is a sign of intense fear and is almost certainly a traumatic experience. They'll generally puff when being transferred between tanks so avoid using a net and instead try to capture them in some type of container to avoid them getting tangled in the net.

Compatible Families

Anglerfish (with caution)

Basslets (with caution)

Dartfish (with caution)

Dottybacks (with caution)

Groupers (with caution)

Pufferfish (with caution)

Triggerfish (with caution)