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Puffers

Marine Puffers Care Sheet

Developed with and approved by a qualified veterinarian.

marine puffers care sheet

Includes marine puffer species such as:

  • Valentini puffer
  • Porcupine puffer
  • Dogface puffer
  • Spiny box puffer
  • Stars and stripes puffer
  • Spotted puffer
  • Honeycomb puffer
  • Blue spotted puffer
  • Bennett’s sharpnose puffer
  • Leopard sharpnose puffer

 

Overview

Scientific names: Canthigaster valentini, Diodon holocanthus, Arothron nigropunctatus, Chilomycterus schoepfi, Arothron hispidus, Canthnigaster jactator, Canthigaster janthinoptera, Canthigaster solandri, Canthingaster bennetti, Canthigaster leoparda

A unique species with huge personalities, marine puffer’s area species of fish that can capture the hearts of most hobbyists. . These scaleless species sometimes have spines or burrs on their skin and are well known for their remarkable defensive ability to expand their size by taking in water or air rapidly. Many species of puffers contain one of the most potent neurotoxins called tetrodotoxin. Pufferfish are not recommended for reef aquariums.

 

Typical appearance and behavior

Pufferfish typically:

  • Have fused, beak-like teeth
  • Inflate when they feel threatened; can be aggressive
  • Eat smaller fish and invertebrates
  • Inhabit the middle levels of the aquarium
  • Can move their eyes independently

Some pufferfish can change their color to match their environment.

 

Characteristics

Care Difficulty Beginner to advanced, depending on species
Average Life Span Up to 10 years with proper care, depending on species
Average Adult Size 3.5–25+ inches long, depending on species
Diet Carnivorous
Minimum Habitat Size 29+ gallons, depending on species
Water temperature 74–80°F
Specific gravity 1.020-1.025

 

Habitat

Habitat size

  • Keep in an appropriately sized aquarium. A minimum of 29 gallons is recommended for smaller-sized adult puffers. A much larger aquarium will be needed for larger species like an adult porcupine puffer.  

 

Building your habitat

Water health: Provide proper filtration to ensure optimal water quality to help maintain health; slow to moderate water circulation, depending on species, will mimic water currents found in the puffer’s natural habitat

  • Stable water quality (pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) and water temperature are critical to the health of aquatic life; if you are unsure of your water quality, bring a sample to Petco for free testing
  • A protein skimmer can help maintain great water quality and high dissolved oxygen levels
  • An aquatic heater should be used to stabilize water temperature, ensuring it does not fluctuate more than +/-2 degrees in a 24-hour period
  • The specific gravity should remain stable; do not allow specific gravity to fluctuate more than +/-0.001 in a 24-hour period

Décor - Provide rock and décor for hiding places, as well as plenty of open room for movement

 

Feeding

What to feed your puffer

A well-balanced puffer diet consists of:

  • Chopped squid, clams, shrimp and krill
  • Carnivorous pellets, freeze-dried and frozen foods
  • Shelled foods, like mussels, to help wear down larger puffers’ continuously growing teeth
  • Varied foods to ensure proper nutritional balance

Things to remember when feeding your puffer:

  • Feed 1–2 times a day, no more than fish will eat in 1–2 minutes
  • Thaw frozen food before feeding

 

Puffer care

Water care: Maintaining great water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration is important to help keep your puffer healthy

  • Daily: Check filter, water temperature and other equipment
  • Weekly: Test water quality at least once a week
  • Weekly to monthly: Change 10–25% of the total volume of water every two to four weeks, or as needed; change filter media monthly

Avoid unnecessarily scaring or teasing your puffer to get it to puff up; this is extremely stressful on the puffer

Avoid overcrowded conditions, which are a major cause of stress and disease

Maintain good water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration

 

Where to buy

Various puffers are available for purchase at Petco online and in store; availability varies by location. If visiting your local location, please call ahead to check availability. 

 

Supplies

 

Tank mates

Introduce new inhabitants to the aquarium gradually. Depending on their specific species, puffers may be compatible with:

  • Dwarf and large angelfish
  • Blennies
  • Clownfish
  • Damselfish
  • Eels
  • Gobies
  • Groupers
  • Hawkfish
  • Lionfish
  • Pseudochromis
  • Wrasses

Some may be compatible with other puffer species of different shapes and sizes, or with similar puffer species in a larger aquarium. 

 

Health

Signs of a healthy puffer

  • Eats vigorously
  • Clear eyes
  • Active swimming
  • Regular breathing
  • Bright, even coloring
  • Fins completely intact and undamaged
  • Free of parasites or disease

 

Red flags (if you notice any of these signs, contact your local aquatic specialist or veterinarian)

  • Loss of color or appetite
  • Spots or fungus on body or mouth
  • Listlessness
  • Erratic swimming
  • Labored breathing
  • Weight loss
  • Cloudy eyes
  • Frayed fins

 

Common health issues

Health Issue Symptoms or Causes Suggested Action
Health IssueFin rot Symptoms or CausesFrayed or disintegrating fins; the base of the fins usually reddens Suggested ActionImprove water quality; consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment.
Health IssueMarine ich Symptoms or CausesCysts on fins, gills, and skin; labored breathing, excess skin mucus or pale skin Suggested ActionQuarantine fish immediately and use a commercial parasite remedy (freshwater dips can help dislodge the parasites); consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment
Health IssueBacterial infection Symptoms or CausesCloudy eyes, open sores and/or reddening of the skin Suggested ActionImprove water quality; use a commercial antibacterial remedy as directed; consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment
Health IssueViral infection (lymphocystis) Symptoms or CausesWhite nodule growths on fins or body Suggested ActionImprove water quality; consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment

 

FAQs

  • What do puffer fish eat? Puffers should be fed a carnivorous diet of pellets and freeze-dried and frozen foods, along with chopped squid, clams, shrimp and krill. Larger puffers should be offered shelled foods, like mussels, to help wear down their continuously growing teeth.
  • Where do puffer fish live? Marine pufferfish can be found in most warm tropical seas and ocean waters.
  • What is a puffer fish? Puffers are uniquely shaped fish who belong to the Teraodontidae family (or the Diodonitadae family for the porcupine puffer). That have fused teeth that resemble a bird’s beak. They are well known for their ability to suck in water or air, allowing them to expand like a balloon.    
  • Where can I buy a puffer fish? Various puffers are available for purchase at Petco online and in store; availability varies by location.

 

Additional care sheets

 

Notes and resources

Ask a Pet Care Center associate about Petco's selection of products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products carry a 100% money-back guarantee.

Because all aquatic life are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as atypical mycobacteria and salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your aquatic life or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of disease.

Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physician before purchasing or caring for aquatic life and should consider not having aquatic life as a pet.

Go to the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/healthypets for more information about aquatic life and disease.

 

The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you need additional information, please contact your veterinarian as appropriate.