Canthigaster bennetti

(Bleeker, 1854)

Bennett’s Sharpnose Pufferfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa south to Port Alfred South Africa and east to Tuamotu Islands, north to Taiwan, and south New South Wales.

Size: 4 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow inner reef flats and protected lagoons, and usually seen in weedy and rocky areas and usually found at depths between 3 to 50 feet (1 - 15 m) where it mainly feeds on algae and benthic invertebrate.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, with a tan on the upper body and white below, with blue spots on the upper half and blue lines radiating from the eyes and a black eyespot at the base of the dorsal. Lacks pelvic fins, but uses the pectoral fins for movement.

Best maintained in fish-only aquariums with live rock caves and crevices for browsing, and also wide-open swimming areas with peaceful, swift moving tankmates, such as damselfish.

Should not be housed with aggressive tankmates such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or angelfishes, as this is a somewhat slow moving species.

Requires a varied diet, i.e., finely chopped fish or shrimp flesh, krill, clams, squid, earth worms, and/or carnivore frozen foods, along with some vegetable matter. Should have numerous/at least three daily feedings.

Taxonomy:

Order: Tetraodontiformes

Suborder: Tetraodontoidei

Family: Tetraodontidae

Subfamily: Canthigastrinae

Genus: Canthigaster

FYI: Will eat small ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, and tubeworms.

Will nip stony corals.

May nip the fins of slow moving tankmates.

One per aquarium unless a mated pair.

Will consume filamentous algae.

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

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: No

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: No

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful, and swifter

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5