Fish Coral Inverts

Dogface Puffer

Arothron nigropunctatus

Share Your Photos

Be the first to contribute photos or videos of this fish.

Your profile will be tagged on all media you contribute.

Share Your Photos

Be the first to contribute photos or videos of this fish.

Your profile will be tagged on all media you contribute.

Suggested Tank

125+ gallons

Max Size

13 inches

Difficulty

Medium

Temperament

Semi-Aggressive

Description

A stout, scaleless puffer with a blunt, dog-like muzzle, small propeller-like pectoral fins and highly variable coloration ranging from pale gray or tan with scattered black spots to solid yellow, orange, or brown morphs, usually with dark smudging around the mouth and eyes. Personable and interactive but destructive: it crunches corals, clams, shrimp, crabs and snails with its fused beak, so it belongs in a large fish-only-with-live-rock system with strong filtration and skimming to handle its heavy waste load. Provide open swimming space plus rockwork caves, keep hard-shelled foods in the diet to grind down continuously growing teeth, and always move it in a container rather than a net to prevent it gulping air.

Reef Safe

Environment

A well-filtered aquarium with plenty of space to swim is ideal for the Dogface Puffer. They need plenty of hiding spots amongst rocks or coral, and a sandy substrate is preferred.

Behavior

Dogface Puffers are generally peaceful but can be semi-aggressive with smaller fish. They are slow swimmers but are very active and curious, often seen exploring their surroundings.

Information might not be complete or accurate. Help the community by suggesting corrections.