Dogface pufferfish (Arothron nigropunctatus) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Dog-faced puffer, Blackspotted puffer
Family
Tetraodontidae (pufferfishes)
Origin
Indo-Pacific from the Indian Ocean to the central Pacific islands (not the Red Sea); outer reef slopes and lagoons, 0–25 m.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
33 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.020–1.025
Minimum tank
500 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
with_caution

Care

A large, characterful puffer for a spacious fish-only or fish-with-live-rock system. Give a long tank with open swimming room and sturdy rockwork; it is messy, so over-size the filtration. The minimum tank size here is an estimate based on the adult size. Water figures given here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4 and a specific gravity of 1.020–1.025 (fish-only systems can run at the lower end). Puffers produce a lot of waste, so strong skimming and regular water changes matter. It is active by day, solitary and territorial, and inflates with water or air when frightened; avoid lifting it out of the water in a net. Colour is variable, from grey to tan or brown, with a dark mask round the eyes and mouth giving the "dog face". Toxins: like other pufferfish it carries tetrodotoxin in its skin and organs. Handle it carefully (with a container rather than a net) and never eat it, and a dead or dying puffer should be removed from the tank promptly. Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arothronnigropunctatus). Checked October 2026.

Diet

In the wild it browses bottom-living invertebrates, sponges, algae, crustaceans and molluscs, and also bites the tips off corals such as Acropora. In the aquarium offer a varied meaty diet of shellfish on the half shell, prawns, krill and mussel, plus some marine algae. Hard-shelled foods help keep its ever-growing beak worn down.

Breeding

Not described in the sources and not known in home aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Keep one per tank. Suits robust, similarly sized fish that will not nip it. Listed as reef safe with caution: it will eat shrimps, crabs, snails, clams and other invertebrates and may nip coral tips, so it is better kept in a fish-only system.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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