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Porcupine PufferPorcupinefishSlender-spined porcupine fish Family: Diodontidae
Latest Reader Comment - See More Doug is my 3 year old Porcupine Puffer. He loves to be hand fed frozen shrimp. I would advise anyone to get one. He's a little messy and he ate my 9" Banded Sna... (more) Matt 2008-02-08
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:
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| Geographic Distribution Diodon nicthemerus |
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| Point data provided by FishBase.org |
Although the porcupine puffer or porcupinefish is easy to feed and generally hardy, they require special care and a special diet to stay healthy.
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 |
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| Doug is my 3 year old Porcupine Puffer. He loves to be hand fed frozen shrimp. I would advise anyone to get one. He's a little messy and he ate my 9" Banded Snake Eel right in front of me. Overall a great fish! Lives with Naso and blue tang and butterfly and two maroon clowns.
2008-02-08 |
| Anyone with Puffers, do not only feed them freeze dried krill, it can kill them. I know, my last puffer died due to malnutrition. Check out the forum on Marine Depot for more information. Best of luck with your wet pet.
2007-11-14 |
| I purchased a porcupine puffer about three weeks ago. He lives in a 75 gallon aquarium with a Niger Blue Trigger, a Dog Faced Puffer, and a Voltan Lionfish. Spike, as I call him, was very nervous (stressed)when he first arrived, but that only lasted for about a day. Spike is truly the most interactive fish I have ever owned! He eats freeze-dried krill (The large size) as fast as I can put them into the tank. He takes the shrimp right from my fingers. I try to be careful not to get bitten!! I have found that I have to watch the amount of food I give him because he will gorge himself!! He gets along fine with all his tankmates. All four of the fish in the tank are about three to four inches long.
I have been told not to try to raise corals in the same tank as puffers and triggers as these fish like to eat the corals! Lava rock and live reef rock provide plenty of hiding places for the fish.
2007-06-28 |
| I have had a porcupine puffer for more than 3 years and he's about 7.5 inches long. He is the friendliest fish that i have ever owned and would recommend one to anyone wanting a friendly fish, though maintaince is required quite often.
2007-06-26 |
| i have a 12 inch porcupine in a 120 gallon tank. he is the most adorable. pet he swims to the top of the tank and wags his tail frantically out of the water to greet me, and wants feeding.
2007-01-11 |
| 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! 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. 2004-07-27 |
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