All fish / Tetraodontidae

Common Toadfish

Tetractenos hamiltoni

Also known as common toado, toado, hamilton's toadfish, common blowfish, toadfish, blowie, australian puffer

A small Australian pufferfish with a pale belly, a sandy brown back covered in dark spots and blotches, and small spines on the skin that show when it inflates. It is kept by brackish and coastal enthusiasts for its inquisitive nature and the way it interacts with its keeper.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

16 to 26 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.4

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Singly or a small group in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: snails, shrimp, mussels, crab, worms and other hard-shelled meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Brackish

Wild range

Eastern Australia, Queensland to Victoria estuaries and coasts

Breeding

It spawns in estuaries and coastal waters, laying eggs on the bottom. Captive breeding is essentially unknown in home aquariums.

Good to know

Its flesh and organs contain tetrodotoxin, which is highly poisonous if eaten, so handle it with care. It nips fins and will eat invertebrates, and it needs hard foods to stop its teeth overgrowing; it also suits cool brackish to full marine water.