Porcupine Puffer (Diodon holocanthus)

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COMMON NAME(S): 

  Porcupine Puffer, Blowfish

SCIENTIFIC NAME(S):  

  Diodon holocanthus

ORIGIN: 

  Tropical oceans worldwide

CAPTIVE LIFESPAN: 

  15+ years

DIFFICULTY LEVEL:  

  Easy to moderate

REEF SAFE:  

  Will leave many corals alone, however, not safe with sessile invertebrates

ADULT SIZE: 

  19 inches (50cm), however, more typically 12 inches in captivity

TANK SIZE: 

  100 gallons

DIET REQUIREMENTS: 

  Feed live and frozen foods, freeze dried/frozen krill, frozen shrimp, mysis shrimp, squid, crab legs, mussels, clams.

GENERAL INFORMATION:  

  The Porcupine Puffer is probably the most well known puffer in the world. Growing to well over a foot, these fish require a very large tank of at least 100 gallons. These puffers are also sensitive to nitrites and ammonia and should only be introduced into a fully cycled aquarium. High quality water is needed for these puffers to thrive, a sump or refugium is a good idea on a tank for this puffer. They are very interactive and have a lot of personality. As with many other puffers, porcupines are not reef safe because they will eat many of the invertebrates that live in a reef system. Porcupines are also a very individualistic fish and while some may tolerate tankmates, others may not. Be careful of keeping anything that cannot get wet near the tank as these puffs are known for shooting water out of the tank.

Written by: Puffer_Archer
Picture by: Rob Allen