Dogface Puffer (7 days for Delivery)

About this fish

What is its maximum size?
Typically grows to approximately 25–30 cm in length when fully mature, although larger specimens can reach around 33 cm.
The Dogface Puffer has a distinctive rounded body, large expressive eyes and a blunt snout resembling a dog's face. Its colouration varies from grey and brown to yellow, with darker spots and markings across its body.
Where is its origin and where is it exported from?
Dogface Puffers are native to the Indo-Pacific region, with a natural distribution extending from the Red Sea and East Africa through Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia to southern Japan and the central Pacific islands.
They inhabit coral reefs, lagoons and sheltered coastal environments, where they feed amongst the reef structure.
They are commonly exported for the aquarium trade from countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. 

Is it reef compatible?
Not considered reef safe. Dogface Puffers are natural predators of crustaceans, molluscs and other small marine invertebrates.
They may eat or damage:
Ornamental shrimp.
Crabs and hermit crabs.
Snails and clams.
Starfish and sea urchins.
Soft corals and LPS corals.
Other small invertebrates.
They may also nip at coral polyps and damage delicate reef structures while searching for food.
They are best suited to fish-only-with-live-rock (FOWLR) aquariums rather than reef systems. 


What should I feed it?
Dogface Puffers are omnivorous carnivores and require a varied diet containing meaty foods and hard-shelled invertebrates.
Suitable foods include:
Frozen mysis shrimp.
Chopped prawns and shrimp.
Krill.
Chopped squid.
Mussels and cockles.
Clams in their shells.
Whole shell-on shrimp.
Marine fish flesh.
Marine algae and suitable vegetable-based foods.
Feed small portions once or twice daily, adjusting according to the fish's size and body condition.
Hard-shelled foods are particularly important because puffers have continuously growing teeth that need to be naturally worn down through feeding. 

How many can I keep?
Generally best kept individually in home aquariums.
Dogface Puffers can become territorial, particularly towards other puffers. Keeping multiple specimens requires a very large aquarium and careful consideration of compatibility.
For most home aquariums, keeping a single specimen is recommended.
How compatible is it with other fish?
Generally semi-aggressive but can be relatively peaceful towards appropriately sized tankmates.
Suitable tankmates may include:
Tangs.
Rabbitfish.
Larger angelfish.
Larger wrasses.
Groupers.
Robust triggerfish.
Other suitably sized marine fish.
Avoid keeping them with very small fish, delicate species or fish that may nip at their fins.
Although they are not usually aggressive towards larger tankmates, individual behaviour can vary considerably. 

Water parameters
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH: 8.1–8.4
Specific gravity (salinity): 1.020–1.025
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: Keep as low as practical through good filtration and regular water changes.
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH
Calcium: 380–450 ppm
Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm