Ephippion guttifer

Datasheet

General Description

The Prickly puffer (Ephippion guttifer) belongs to the Tetraodontidae family, known for their unique swimming style, intriguing personality, and ability to puff up. In nature, they blow water onto sand to find food, a behavior they may exhibit in aquariums. They are called "Blowfish" due to this behavior and may also spray water out of the tank. Pufferfish are generally hardy but not reef-safe, as they might nip at other fish's fins and possess toxins in their skin, which can be released when stressed or dying.

Aquarium Suitability

The Prickly puffer is not suitable for home aquariums due to its demanding nature. They require a very large tank when fully grown, making them challenging to house in a typical domestic setup. Additionally, these fish must not inhale air during feeding or transport, as it can be difficult for them to expel. They are also known to be a threat to small fish, shrimps, bivalves, worms, snails, and similar creatures.

Demands, Care, and Hardiness

While the hardiness of the Prickly puffer is unknown, they are described as difficult to keep due to their specific requirements. It is crucial to provide the correct equipment and diet, as they need a lot of food to sustain themselves. Their teeth continuously grow throughout their lives, necessitating appropriate food like snails or mussels to grind their teeth. Pufferfish are not compatible with flake foods and should be fed a varied diet of seafood and frozen foods.

Reef Suitability

The Prickly puffer is not reef-safe, as it may potentially harm the delicate ecosystem of a reef tank. They are known to nibble at the fins of other fish and are not recommended for reef setups.

Aquarium Setup

Setting up an aquarium for the Prickly puffer involves ensuring a large enough tank to accommodate their adult size. Care should be taken to avoid any air intake by the fish, as well as preventing stress that may lead to toxin release. The tank must be equipped with suitable filtration and aeration systems to maintain optimal water conditions.

Behaviour

Prickly puffers can display aggressive behavior towards smaller tank mates and are best housed in a species-specific setup or with larger, robust companions. They may puff up when threatened or stressed, a defense mechanism that should be considered when planning their tank environment.

Feeding and Diet

These fish have specific dietary requirements and need a diet that helps wear down their teeth. Snails, mussels, larger crustaceans, and other invertebrates are suitable food choices for the Prickly puffer. Providing a varied diet with seafood and frozen foods is essential for their health and well-being.

Dimorphism and Habitat

Information on dimorphism and captive reproduction is unavailable for the Prickly puffer. In the wild, they are found in the West Indian Ocean, where they exhibit natural behaviors such as blowing water to uncover food. Their large adult size, specific dietary needs, and care demands make them a challenging but intriguing species to keep in a specialized aquarium setting.