All fish / Tetraodontidae

Bennett's Sharpnose Puffer

Canthigaster bennetti

Also known as bennett's toby, bennetti puffer, bennett's puffer, sharpnose puffer, toby puffer, ハナキンチャクフグ, 本氏扁背鲀

A small sharpnose puffer with a pale body covered in brown and orange spotting, blue lines around the eye and a dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin. It is kept for its lively character and modest size, which suit smaller fish-only or carefully planned reef aquariums.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Single specimen or a mated pair

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, chopped shellfish, krill, snails and quality frozen foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific, East Africa to the Pacific islands

Breeding

Pairs lay sticky eggs on algae which the male guards until hatching. Captive breeding is rare because the tiny larvae are very hard to rear.

Good to know

It may nip corals, clams, invertebrates and the fins of slow fish, and its skin and organs carry toxin, so it should never be eaten. Keep only one per tank unless a pair is certain.