Striped dogface puffer (Arothron manilensis) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Striped puffer, Narrow-lined puffer
Family
Tetraodontidae (pufferfishes)
Origin
Central Indo-Pacific; estuaries, sheltered reefs and lagoons to 20 m, often over seagrass and sand; juveniles among mangroves.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
31 cm
Temperature
23–27°C
pH
7.6–8.2
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.020–1.025
Minimum tank
400 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
no
Lifespan
10 years

Care

Wikipedia suggests a minimum of about 100 US gallons (roughly 380 litres; 400 litres given here), with live rock to forage over and ideally a sump or refugium. Wikipedia quotes 23–27 °C and pH 7.6–8.2; most keepers aim for pH 8.1–8.4 as in other marine systems, with a specific gravity of 1.020–1.025. It is sensitive to ammonia and nitrite, so add it only to a fully cycled, mature tank. It is active by day and solitary, and does not tolerate others of its own kind. The pale body is marked with fine dark lengthwise stripes. 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/Arothronmanilensis). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Eats bottom-living invertebrates in the wild. In the aquarium it takes live and frozen foods such as snails, krill, prawns, bloodworm, crab legs and small crabs. Include hard-shelled foods to keep its teeth worn down.

Breeding

Breeding is unknown and the sexes look alike.

Compatibility and tank mates

Fairly mild towards other fish but territorial with its own species, so keep one per tank. Not reef safe: it readily eats crustaceans, snails and other reef invertebrates.

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

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