Arothron nigropunctatus

(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Black-Spotted Pufferfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Micronesia and Samoa, north to Southern Japan, south to New South Wales.

Size: 13 inches (32 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coral reefs, often found sleeping on barrel sponges and usually found at depths between 10 to 85 feet (3 - 25 m) where it feeds on benthic invertebrate.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, with its coloration depending upon its stage in life - grey phase is grey with black markings around the mouth, eyes, and dorsal fin, with some yellow in the pectoral fins. - the half yellow phase has a yellowish belly with grey overcoat, with the face similar to that in the grey phase. May also have black spots over the body. Colors highly variable - sometimes completely black, all gold or even orange. Lacks pelvic fins, but uses the pectoral fins for movement.

Best maintained in fish-onl aquariums with wide-open swimming areas, peaceful tankmates, and tankmates too large to be eaten. Provide a large cave to hide in when needed.

Should not be housed with aggressive or fin-nipping fishes, such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or angelfishes, as this is a slow moving species.

Requires a varied diet, i.e., chunky chopped fish or shrimp flesh, krill, clams, squid, and/or carnivore frozen foods, along with some vegetable matter. Leave the hard shells on shrimp that are fed, as this may help wear down its teeth. Should have numerous daily feedings.

Taxonomy:

Order: Tetraodontiformes

Suborder: Tetraodontoidei

Family: Tetraodontidae

Subfamily: Tetraodontinae

Genus: Arothron

FYI: Will eat smaller fishes, ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, urchins, sea stars, sponges, clams including tridacnid clams, and tubeworms.

Will nip the fins of slow moving tankmates.

May graze upon coralline algae and eat stony corals.

When threatened, will puff up by taking in air and water and become balloon-like to deter predators.

The bodies of Pufferfish are covered in a toxic mucus (tetrodotoxin), a powerful poison to ward off would-be predators.

If the skin or flesh is consumed by humans, it can be fatal.

Probably will need to be dewormed and have its teeth filed to prevent overgrowth.

May be shy when first introduced into the aquarium, but will soon settle down and become one of the family.

More than one can be maintained in the same aquarium, if there is sufficient room and food.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: No

Fish Safe: No

Invertebrate Safe: No

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful, and larger

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 - 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5