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Porcupine Puffer

PorcupinefishSlender-spined porcupine fish Family: Diodontidae

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Diodon nicthemerus Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   This one is doing what most Porcupine Puffer or Porcupinefish do very well, (besides eating) it is puffing up! If threatened, they will fill themselves with air or water to become about 5 times their normal size! This one did it every time we moved it.

   The Porcupine Puffer or Porcupinefish will become accustomed to being fed and will eventually look to their owners for food and will take it from your hand. Many times this fish will become so large the owners will get a separate aquarium for it!

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Maintenance:
  Puffers have strong teeth that grow throughout their lives. They need to be offered hard shelled live food often to keep their teeth worn down. For a better explanation and links to the practice of puffer dentistry (if needed) please read here. Because they eat a meaty diet and are often messy eaters, puffers will produce a large bio load on the biological filter of your aquarium requiring frequent water changes and good maintenance practices.

Habitat: Natural geographic location:
  Indo-Pacific: Southern Australia from central New South Wales to a similar latitude in Western Australia.

Foods:
 Puffers are primarily predatory fish in the wild, though they do graze on algae as well. Acceptable foods include shellfish, crustaceans and hard shelled foods such as snails. A large variety of all kinds of live and frozen meaty foods are best. It is best to feed small amounts several times a day. Some of the suggested frozen foods include prawn, crabs/crabs legs, bloodworms (live or frozen), blackworms (live or frozen), silversides, and mussels. Be sure to wash these foods thoroughly before feeding. Live foods can include snails, crabs, crayfish, shrimp (these are good for keeping their teeth trimmed), and earthworms. Live fish will also be eaten but it is thought it may cause problems such as 'fatty" liver and so should be fed sparingly or not at all.. Puffers are not picky eaters and will quickly become adapted to a variety of prepared aquarium foods and an occasional algae wafer. Flake food is not recommended. Even though they may eat it, puffers will not thrive on it.

Social Behaviors:
   Found commonly in shallow bays. Nocturnal. Occurs in small aggregations. In the aquarium, they can be aggressive among themselves, and any smaller fish may be eaten.

Sex: Sexual differences:
   Unknown.

Light: Recommended light levels:
   No special requirements.

Temperature:
   No special requirements. Normal temperatures for marine fish is between 74 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit.

Length/Diameter of fish:
   Porcupine Puffer or Porcupinefish adults can grow to 28.0 cm (11 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:
   A minimum 75 gallon aquarium is recommended.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
   No special requirements.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
   No special requirements.

Availability:
   This fish is available from time to time.

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Latest Comments
I have a porcupine puffer and his name is mister puff. He's a very cool fish and always begs me for his food. The only problem is that when I'm a little late to feed him, he eats all the small fish in my tank (clownfish, damselfish, anything small etc..) So if you like small fish don't get this fish, because you will be very sad when you get home. heff 2009-09-05
I have had my porcupine puffer for 3 months now and I love this fish. They are so much fun to watch, their personalities are fun. When he is hungry he will splash and follow you in the tank till you give him what he wants. I don't see him as an aggressive fish since he is fine with our sting ray, believe it or not they swill laps together. Robert 2009-07-17
I love the porcupine fish because it is as cute as a puppy. I hope to have one in my tank. I think that my tank is just nice for him, in my tank I have a clownfish and a red tail file fish. I wish that my wish will come true. lego man 2009-06-11
I have a porcupine puffer fish named Furby and he is my favorite in the reef tank! He has beautiful iridescent eyes and ALWAYS knows when its feeding time. He has even learned to spit water at us when we don't feed him fast enough! I feed him frozen krill and haven't noticed any problem... but he's also only been with us a few months... I would definitely recommend this fish to anyone who enjoys being entertained! :D Kaity 2009-03-14
Porcupine fish are cool. I have none but my teacher forced me to learn about them. My teacher is watching over us like a hawk and a fish. Heather 2009-01-29
Some of the coolest comments:
Doug was a part of the family for four years. Just wanted to give you heads up as one other person did below. Doug's diet included only frozen shrimp and brine shrimp cubes and beefheart. The guys at my local trusted aquarium were always on me to feed him the frozen Krill. Finally thought I'd give it a try. Big mistake! I thawed 4 Krill and dropped them in Doug's tank. He ate them with the quickness as usual. Then went and layed in the sand like he does when he has finished eating. The problem is he never came back up. He was dead within 12 hours. The only thing that changed was that he ate some Krill. He lived 4 years without them. Bottom line, Puffers can do fine without Krill, and I would advise everyone not to try it! Just thought this could save your puffer! Matt 2008-05-26
I had a porcupine puffer about 7 inches long when I introduced a Green Wolf Eel approx 5 inches long. The puffer is always curious about tank mates but has never shown aggression towards the wolf, they get along fine. mark 2004-07-27

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