White-spotted Puffer

The white-spotted puffer is a large pufferfish with countless small white spots on its back and tail and white stripes on its belly; the base of the pectoral fin is surrounded by a dark ring. Small juveniles are sold in stores, but it is a fish that reaches 50 cm and lives for many years. Juveniles are also found in estuaries and weedy brackish waters. Toxin note: Its skin and internal organs contain tetrodotoxin, a potent toxin; it must never be eaten. Specimens are wild-collected.

• At least 1000 liters for an adult; very strong filtration and a protein skimmer, because it is very messy.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Firmly secured rocks, a guarded heater and protected cables; it is curious and may bite equipment.
• Not reef-safe: It eats corals, zoanthids, shrimp, crabs, snails, mussels and sea urchins.

Omnivorous. Offer mussels in the shell, oysters, shrimp, crabs, squid and krill; hard-shelled foods are essential to wear down its constantly growing beak-like teeth. Juveniles are fed once a day, adults 3–4 times a week.

Intelligent and curious; it recognizes its keeper and learns to take food from the hand. It is dangerous to its own species and sometimes to fish that fit in its mouth; it may bite the fins of slow fish.

Good companions: Large, fast fish: large tangs, large angelfish, foxface, triggerfish, morays.

Avoid: All invertebrates and corals, small fish, slow long-finned species, small aquariums.