Porcupine Puffer care guide
Porcupine Puffer (Diodon holocanthus) — minimum tank 400 L, temperature 23-27 °C, pH 8-8.4.
Overview
The Porcupine Puffer (Diodon holocanthus), also called the Long-spine Porcupinefish, reaches about 30 cm in marine aquaria. The pale yellow-brown body is covered in long, hinged spines that lie flat against the body and erect when the fish inflates with water as a defence. Large green eyes and prominent teeth fused into a parrot-like beak distinguish the species.
Taxonomy
- Family: Diodontidae
- Genus: Diodon
- Scientific name: Diodon holocanthus
- Common synonyms: Long-Spine Porcupinefish, Balloonfish
Habitat
A circumglobal species inhabiting tropical and warm-temperate seas worldwide — Atlantic, Indian and Pacific. It is found over reefs, seagrass beds and sandy areas, typically from 2 to 100 m depth, and often shelters in caves or under ledges by day.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L (105.7 US gal)
- Adult size: 20-30 cm
- Temperature: 23-27 °C (73-81 °F)
- pH: 8-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
- Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-12
Diet
A carnivore feeding on hard-shelled invertebrates — snails, crustaceans, urchins and bivalves — that it crushes with fused beak-like teeth. In aquaria it requires a varied diet of unshelled shrimp, krill, mussel, clam and crab; hard foods are essential to wear down its continuously growing beak.
Compatibility
Generally peaceful with similarly sized robust fish but will eat any small invertebrates and may bite slow tank mates. Compatible with large tangs, angels, triggers and other puffers in spacious FOWLR systems. Tank lids must be secure, as puffers sometimes leap.
Reef compatibility
Not reef-safe. The species eats crustaceans, snails and sometimes coral polyps and is a hazard to ornamental shrimps, hermit crabs and clams. Suitable only for FOWLR or fish-only systems.
Breeding
A pelagic broadcast spawner; eggs and larvae are dispersed in the open ocean. Captive breeding has not been achieved commercially and aquarium-trade specimens are wild-caught.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. The species has a near-cosmopolitan tropical range and is not considered globally threatened, although it is occasionally subject to localised bycatch in trawl fisheries.