More info
Common Name: Blue-spotted Puffer, Solander's Toby
Order: Tetraodontiformes — Family: Tetraodontidae (Pufferfish)
Distribution: Western Indo-Pacific Ocean, from East Africa to Hawaii, the Marquesas and Tuamotu Islands, north to Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
Lifespan: 5 to 10 years
pH: 8.1 to 8.4 — Hardness: 8–12 dKH
Temperature: 24°C to 28°C
Minimum Aquarium Size: 200 liters. Requires live rock, hiding spaces, and open swimming areas. Not reef-safe — may nip at invertebrates and corals.
Behavior & Compatibility:
Territorial but generally peaceful with dissimilar fish species. May nip at invertebrates such as snails and shrimp, and can damage corals. Best kept alone or with robust, peaceful tank mates in a fish-only or FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) setup.
Diet:
Omnivorous with a carnivorous inclination. Feeds on benthic invertebrates, small crustaceans, sponges, and algae in the wild. In captivity, accepts frozen foods like mysis and brine shrimp, commercial preparations with marine algae, and enriched flakes or pellets. A varied diet is essential to prevent overgrowth of the beak-like teeth.
Reproduction:
Oviparous. Rarely bred in captivity. Forms temporary pairs. Eggs are released into the water column and hatch within approximately 24 hours.
Sexual Dimorphism:
No clear external differences between males and females are known.
Biotope:
Inhabits coral reef environments, especially in areas with crevices and shelter. Found from shallow reef flats down to about 30 meters deep.
Etymology:
Canthigaster derives from the Greek kanthos (corner of the eye) and gaster (belly). solandri honors Swedish naturalist Daniel Solander.