Spotted Sharpnose Pufferfish - Central America

Canthigaster punctatissima

The Spotted Sharpnose Pufferfish is a peaceful, moderately easy-to-care-for marine puffer, making it quite popular in the aquarium trade. They prefer established aquariums with plenty of rock work arranged to create caves and crevices for resting, but they also require wide open areas for swimming. They are not considered reef-safe and should be added to a fish-only aquarium. Their diet should be varied and include meaty foods like brine shrimp, finely chopped fish, krill, clams, squid, and prepared foods designed for carnivores. Occasionally, they should be offered prepared foods with vegetable matter. This puffer should be fed several small meals a day rather than one large meal. They have an adult size of 4 inches, making them ideal for smaller aquariums. Interestingly, they lack pelvic fins but use their pectoral fins for movement. Spotted Sharpnose Puffers are found in the Eastern Central Pacific Ocean, inhabiting reef flats, lagoons, and slopes up to 21 meters deep.