Central American Sharpnose Puffer

Details

Scientific Name: Canthigaster punctatissima
Family: Tetraodontidae
Color: brown, tan, white

Fish Care

Fish Diet: Omnivore
Aggressiveness: Non-Aggressive
Reef Safe: With Caution
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gal
Max Size: 3.5"
Relative Care: Moderate

Description


The Central American Sharpnose Puffer is also called the Spotted Sharpnose Puffer. Members of the Canthigaster genus are called Sharp-nosed Puffers or Tobies. It is a yellowish brown with white spots. It lacks pelvic fins, but has learned to use the pectoral fins to move about the aquarium.

A 50 gallon or larger, fish-only aquarium is suitable. It may eat invertebrates found in a reef tank. Its teeth are actually a fused beak-like structure which it uses to crush its prey.

Parts of its flesh are poisonous. It has the ability, when threatened or alarmed, to inflate its body to almost twice its normal size. It does get alarmed when in a net, therefore, use a container to transfer it.

The Central American Sharpnose Puffer needs a varied diet of meaty foods including; squid, krill, clams, and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth.