Pufferfish (Tetraodontidae)
Pufferfish Family Characteristics:
Puffers are generally smaller than porcupinefish and smooth scaled. Their jaws are fused, but a divided bone serves as front teeth. 'Tetraodon' means four toothed (two teeth at the top and two at the bottom), whereas 'Diodon' means two teeth (one at the top and one at the bottom). These fishes use their pectoral fins to achieve highly maneuverable propulsion, but the pelvic fins are absent. Their inflating capabilities vary from species to species, some are fully inflatable while some can only partially inflate. The flesh of all species is poisonous and if one dies it should be removed immediately.
Diet And Feeding:
Puffers will eat readily in the aquarium, taking finely chopped meat foods or live foods. They have a bold feeding manner and can make a big mess while eating.
Aquarium Behavior:
Generally peaceful but occasionally may be aggressive towards other fishes. Do not keep with invertebrates or fish small enough to eat.
List Of Popular Aquarium Pufferfish:
- White Spotted Blowfish, Stars And Stripes Puffer (Arothron hispidus)
- Guinea Fowl Puffer, Golden Puffer (Arothron meleagris)
- Sharpnosed Puffer, False Eye Puffer, Blue Spotted Puffer (Canthigaster solandri)
- Black Saddled Puffer, Valentine Puffer (Canthigaster valentini)
- Arothron Dog Face Puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus)
- Papuan Toby Puffer (Canthigaster papua)
- Porcupine Puffer (Diodon holocanthus)
- Saddle Puffer (Canthigaster coronata)
- Scribbled Arothron Puffer (Arthron mappa)
- Spiny Box Puffer (Chilomycterus antillarium)
- Spotted Puffer (Canthigaster jactator)
- Bennett's Sharpnose Puffer (Canthigaster bennetti)
- Immaculatus Puffer (Arothron immaculatus)
- Leopard Puffer (Canthigaster leoparda)
- Narrow Lined Puffer (Arothron manilensis)
