Saltwater
Valentin's sharpnose puffer
Canthigaster valentini
Tetraodontidae, Canthigasterinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 11 cm
- Body shape
- Deep-bodied
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 46 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
Native
Lives wild in American Samoa, Australia, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cook Islands, Ecuador, France, and 30 more countries.
More about the species
Description
Found among coral heads and rocks of subtidal lagoon and seaward reefs. Common on coastal reefs at various depths. Mimic filefish, males are territorial and are often seen fighting. Feed mainly on filamentous green and red algae, tunicates, and on smaller amounts of corals, bryozoans, polychaetes, echinoderms, mollusks, and brown and coralline red algae. Form shoals (10-100 or more) often with the filefish, Paraluteres prionurus (about 5% of shoal) mimicking C. valentini to protect it from predators. Territorial and haremic; males spawn with a different female each day. One or more territories are occupied and defended each by a female where a single large male stands guard. All sexually mature females are territorial females. Demersal spawner.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Canthigaster valentinii
- Cathigaster valentini
- Tetraodon gronovii
- Tetraodon valentini
- Tetrodon taeniatus
In other languages
- Sortbroget kuglefisk
- Satulapallokala
- Banded toby, Black saddled toby, Black-saddled toby, Blacksaddle toby, Model toby, Saddleback pufferfish, Saddled pufferfish, Sharpnose puffer fish, Valentini's Sharpnose Puffer, Valentinni's sharpnose puffer
Articles
All articles
Fish that get along4 min read
Temperament, fin nippers, fish that eat other fish, and fish that need the same water. And what the Harmony mark in the app means.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.
From freshwater to saltwater3 min read
What is different in a saltwater aquarium: salt, refractometer, live rock and corals. An introduction for anyone thinking of giving it a try.