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Dogface Puffer
Puffer

Dogface Puffer

Arothron nigropunctatus

The dogface puffer is one of the most popular large Arothron species — a hardy, long-lived fish (commonly 10–15 years in captivity) with a genuinely doglike face and a lot of personality. It's strictly a fish-only fish: its powerful beak-like teeth crush Acropora tips, crustaceans, molluscs and sponges, so a cleanup crew or ornamental shrimp won't survive alongside it. It needs hard, crunchy foods (shell-on shrimp, clams, snails) to keep its ever-growing teeth worn down, and a genuinely large, mature tank once it reaches its adult size of around 33 cm.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
13"
Min tank
150 gal
Reef-safe
Not reef safe
Diet
Omnivore
Zone
Mid-water, Rockwork, Open water
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Dogface Puffer gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Percula ClownfishDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Percula Clownfish.Purple Queen AnthiasDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Purple Queen Anthias.Banggai CardinalfishDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Banggai Cardinalfish.Radiant WrasseDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Radiant Wrasse.Pajama CardinalfishDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Pajama Cardinalfish.Green ChromisDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Green Chromis.Blue DamselDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Blue Damsel.Yellowtail DamselDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellowtail Damsel.Flame AngelfishDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Flame Angelfish.Coral Beauty AngelfishDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Coral Beauty Angelfish.Lemonpeel AngelfishDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Lemonpeel Angelfish.Helfrich's FirefishDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Helfrich's Firefish.Yasha GobyDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yasha Goby.Tailspot BlennyDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Tailspot Blenny.McCosker's Flasher WrasseDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller McCosker's Flasher Wrasse.Sixline WrasseDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Sixline Wrasse.Leopard WrasseDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Leopard Wrasse.Lubbock's Fairy WrasseDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse.Melanurus WrasseDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Melanurus Wrasse.Yellow Coris WrasseDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Yellow Coris Wrasse.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Maroon ClownfishDogface Puffer and Maroon Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor AngelfishDogface Puffer and Bicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Saddleback ClownfishDogface Puffer and Red Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellow TangDogface Puffer and Yellow Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Sea ClownfishDogface Puffer and Red Sea Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sailfin TangDogface Puffer and Sailfin Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple TangDogface Puffer and Purple Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Powder Blue TangDogface Puffer and Powder Blue Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Convict TangDogface Puffer and Convict Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Clark's ClownfishDogface Puffer and Clark's Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Achilles TangDogface Puffer and Achilles Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Naso TangDogface Puffer and Naso Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Scopas TangDogface Puffer and Scopas Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Tomini TangDogface Puffer and Tomini Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Antennata LionfishDogface Puffer and Antennata Lionfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Mimic TangDogface Puffer and Mimic Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Powder Brown TangDogface Puffer and Powder Brown Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sebae ClownfishDogface Puffer and Sebae Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Domino DamselDogface Puffer and Domino Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Neon Velvet DamselDogface Puffer and Neon Velvet Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.