Star puffer (Arothron stellatus) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Stellate pufferfish, Starry puffer, Starry toadfish
Family
Tetraodontidae (pufferfishes)
Origin
Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean to Polynesia, southern Japan and Australia; reef slopes and clear lagoons near sand, 0–58 m.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
120 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.020–1.025
Care level
expert
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
no

Care

At up to 120 cm this is one of the largest puffers and is for public-aquarium-sized systems only; it is not suitable for home aquaria. 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 a solitary, day-active bottom-dweller that defends a territory and inflates with water or air when threatened. Adults are pale with many small dark spots like stars. Toxins: it carries tetrodotoxin, mainly in the ovaries and to a lesser degree the skin and liver, acquired from toxin-producing bacteria in its food. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern. 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/Arothronstellatus). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Eats bottom-living invertebrates, sponges, algae, coral polyps (including Acropora), crustaceans and molluscs. Captive fish need large shellfish, crab and other hard-shelled foods to keep their beak worn.

Breeding

Not described in the sources. Not bred in home aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe: it eats corals, crustaceans and molluscs. Only for very large public displays with robust tankmates.

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

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