Source: Wikimedia Commons
Porcupinefish
IntermediateDiodon holocanthus
The familiar porcupinefish with body-wide spines, big eyes and the habit of inflating when alarmed. It tames well but reaches 50cm and crushes snails and shrimp, so it suits a large fish-only tank.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperature
21〜26℃
Size
Up to 50cm
Diet
Frozen shell-on shrimp, clams, squid, krill
About
The Porcupinefish (Diodon holocanthus) is a diodontid distributed through tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, and in the Pacific ranges from southern Japan to Lord Howe Island and Hawaii. It lives on shallow reefs, soft bottoms and rocky substrata at 2-200m, usually shallower than 35m. Juveniles drift with floating weed, subadults form small groups and adults are solitary. It is nocturnal, crushing snails, urchins, hermit crabs and crabs with its fused beak-like teeth. When threatened it swallows water to inflate to nearly twice its size and erects its spines. A slow swimmer, it manoeuvres with its pectoral fins. Maximum 50cm, though captive fish often settle around 30cm. Keep at 21-26C, pH 8.1-8.4 and SG 1.020-1.025 in a fish-only tank of 680L or more with a strong protein skimmer. It recognises its keeper and begs for food, but may nip the fins of tankmates and eats invertebrates. Feed shell-on foods so the teeth do not overgrow. The flesh and organs are poisonous. IUCN: Least Concern.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Size of the Porcupinefish
The Porcupinefish grows to Up to 50cm.
Temperature & humidity for the Porcupinefish
The ideal temperature for the Porcupinefish is 21〜26℃.
Basic Info
Origin
Circumtropical (Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans)
Size
Up to 50cm
Temperature
21〜26℃
Care Specifications
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Water Temp.
- 21–26℃
- Specific Gravity
- 1.02–1.025
- Min. Tank
- 680 L
Semi-aggressiveNot reef safeSolitary
Sources: LiveAquaria / FishBase
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listedIUCN LC · Least Concern
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / IUCN Red List
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Porcupinefish Listings
Loading latest listingsFind listings for this species
