Common name: Long-spined porcupine fish
General information
The Porcupine Pufferfish, scientifically known as Diodon holocanthus, is a charismatic and easily recognizable species in the marine aquarium trade. Its ability to inflate its body into a ball shape as a defense mechanism against predators is a unique and fascinating feature. This inflation ability is due to their highly elastic stomach that can quickly fill with water or air. When not puffed up, they exhibit a grey to tan color with dark spots and have large, expressive eyes.
Details
- Recommended minimum tank volume
- 300 liter (79 gallons)
- Salinity
- S.G. 1.020 to 1.025
- Temperature
- 22 to 26 °C (72 to 79 °F)
- Acidity
- pH 8 to 8.4
- Average size
- 50 cm (1′8″)
- Care level
- Moderate to easy Needs ample hiding spaces
- Diet
- Carnivore Prefers meaty foods, frozen shrimp
- Social
- Solo Territorial, best kept alone
- Reefsafe
- No May nip at or consume inverts
- Aggression
- Semi aggresive Can be aggressive, especially when inflated
- Captive bred
- No
- Conservation statusSource: IUCN Red List
Taxonomy
- KingdomAnimalsAnimalia
- PhylumChordatesChordata
- ClassRay-finned FishesActinopterygii
- OrderPufferfishTetraodontiformes
- FamilyPorcupinefishDiodontidae
- GenusPorcupinefishDiodon
- SpeciesLong-spined porcupine fishDiodon holocanthus Linnaeus, 1758
- SynonymsAtopomycterus bocagei Steindachner, 1866Diodon holacanthus Linnaeus, 1758Diodon hystrix holocanthus Linnaeus, 1758Diodon maculifer Kaup, 1855Diodon multimaculatus Cuvier, 1818Diodon novemaculatus Cuvier, 1818Diodon paraholocanthus Kotthaus, 1979Diodon pilosus Mitchill, 1815Diodon quadrimaculatus Cuvier, 1818Diodon sexmaculatus Cuvier, 1818Paradiodon quadrimaculatus (Cuvier, 1818)Trichodiodon pilosus (Mitchill, 1815)
Care
Porcupine Pufferfish require a spacious tank to accommodate their size, which can reach up to 12 inches in length. They are not reef-safe as they have a tendency to nip at and consume various invertebrates and can inadvertently damage corals with their spines. A diet rich in meaty foods such as shrimp, squid, and clams is essential for their health. They are also known for their strong beak-like teeth, which they use to crush hard-shelled prey, so providing them with shelled food items can help keep their teeth trimmed.
Reproduction
In the wild, Porcupine Pufferfish are solitary creatures and come together only to breed. Little is known about their breeding habits in the wild, and breeding them in captivity is extremely rare and not well documented.
Habitat
Porcupine Pufferfish are found in warm, tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. They prefer reef environments, where they can find plenty of hiding places among the rocks and corals. They are typically found at depths ranging from shallow waters to about 50 meters.