How to Keep Pufferfish? Care Methods and Precautions

Pufferfish, also known as Arothron, comes in many species, mainly including: black-spotted puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus), star-spotted puffer (Arothron stellatus), map puffer (Arothron mappa), zebra puffer (Arothron manilensis), white-spotted puffer (Arothron hispidus), Philippine puffer (Arothron cf. hispidus), and so on. They are warm-water fish. So, how do you keep pufferfish?

1. How to keep pufferfish?

Choose a fairly large aquarium, spread a thick layer of fine sand on the bottom, and keep the water temperature at around 24-28°C. Pufferfish grow very quickly in size during the first year, gaining about 2 cm per month on average, so be sure to upgrade to a larger tank. Foods you can offer include small shrimp, loach, mosquito larvae, shellfish, and so on, feeding small amounts several times a day. In addition, you need to deal with its waste every day and change the water frequently.

2. The main species of pufferfish

1. Star-spotted puffer (Arothron stellatus)

A warm-water fish, a medium-to-large bottom-dwelling species of coastal waters, with a maximum body length of 1200 mm. It is distributed from the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, east to Micronesia in the Pacific, north to southern Japan, and south to Australia. In China it is found in the South China Sea (Dongsha, Nansha, Yinggehai and Ganchong in Hainan, Weizhou Island in Guangxi, Zhapo and Shanwei in Guangdong) and the East China Sea (waters south of Taiwan Island in Fujian, and the coastal waters of Taiwan, Penghu, Xiaoliuqiu, Lanyu, and Green Island). The liver and ovaries are highly toxic and it must not be eaten. It can be kept for viewing.

2. White-spotted puffer (Arothron hispidus)

The white-spotted puffer is a warm-water small-to-medium bottom-dwelling fish of nearshore waters, generally 150-250 mm in body length, with large individuals reaching 300 mm. The liver and ovaries are highly toxic. The muscles, skin, and testes are also toxic. It is distributed from the Philippines in the west, east to Hawaii and the Society Islands, and north to the coastal waters of southern Japan. In China it is found in the waters of the South China Sea islands.

3. Black-spotted puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus)

A warm-water small-to-medium fish that lives on reefs or rocks. It generally measures 100-200 mm in body length, with large individuals reaching 250 mm. The stomach is medium-sized. The ovaries and liver are highly toxic, and the muscles, testes, and skin are also toxic.

It is distributed across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, very widely, west to the Red Sea and the east coast of Africa, east to the Society Islands, south to New South Wales in Australia, and north to the Ryukyu waters of Japan. In China it is found in the waters around the Xisha Islands, Hainan Island, and the coastal waters of Taiwan.

4. Radiated puffer (Arothron reticularis)

A warm-water medium-to-large bottom-dwelling fish of nearshore waters. Individuals are relatively large, generally 300-500 mm, with large ones reaching 600 mm. It is distributed from the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean in the west, east to the Society Islands in the Pacific, north to China and southern Japan, and south to the coastal waters of northern Australia. In China it is found in the southern East China Sea and the coastal waters of Taiwan.

5. Lined puffer (Arothron immaculatus)

A warm-water small-to-medium bottom-dwelling fish of nearshore waters. It feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, and fish, and also eats algae and coral branches in coral reefs. It generally measures 200-300 mm in body length, with large individuals reaching 450 mm. It is distributed in the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific. In China it is found in the coastal waters of Taiwan.

6. Spotgill puffer (Arothron immaculatus)

A warm-water small bottom-dwelling fish of nearshore waters. It generally measures 100-150 mm in body length, with large individuals reaching 200 mm. It is distributed in the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific.

7. Striped-belly puffer (Arothron hispidus)

A warm-water medium-to-large bottom-dwelling fish of nearshore waters. It often lives in rocky reef and coral reef waters, is omnivorous, and can eat crustaceans, mollusks, and fish, as well as various algae and coral branches. It generally measures 200-300 mm in body length, with large individuals reaching 500 mm. The eggs and liver are highly toxic, and the muscles, skin, and testes are also toxic. It is distributed in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, west to the east coast of Africa, south to Australia, east to Indonesia, and north to the waters of China and southern Japan.

Since most pufferfish are toxic, try to wear gloves when you touch them.