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Valentini Puffer
Puffer

Valentini Puffer

Canthigaster valentini

A small, hardy "toby" puffer with four dark saddles, blue-flecked flanks and an endearing, dog-like personality that makes it a favourite centrepiece. The catch is its beak: it grazes and nips, so ornamental shrimp, clams, snails and other cleanup-crew inverts are at risk, and it will sometimes sample corals — a reef fish only "with caution". It is generally peaceful but can nip the fins of slow tankmates, and only one should be kept per tank. Its flesh carries tetrodotoxin, but that is a defence against being eaten, not a handling or stinging hazard to the keeper.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
3.9"
Min tank
30 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe with caution
Diet
Omnivore
Zone
Mid-water, Rockwork, Bottom
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Valentini 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.

Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Painted FrogfishPainted Frogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Valentini Puffer.Blue-Leg Hermit CrabValentini Puffer hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Blue-Leg Hermit Crab is on the menu.Trochus SnailValentini Puffer hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Trochus Snail is on the menu.Astrea SnailValentini Puffer hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Astrea Snail is on the menu.Cerith SnailValentini Puffer hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Cerith Snail is on the menu.Nassarius SnailValentini Puffer hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nassarius Snail is on the menu.Nerite SnailValentini Puffer hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nerite Snail is on the menu.Bumble Bee SnailValentini Puffer hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Bumble Bee Snail is on the menu.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Maroon ClownfishValentini Puffer and Maroon Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Blue DamselValentini Puffer and Blue Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellowtail DamselValentini Puffer and Yellowtail Damsel both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame AngelfishValentini Puffer and Flame Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral Beauty AngelfishValentini Puffer and Coral Beauty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Lemonpeel AngelfishValentini Puffer and Lemonpeel Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Bicolor AngelfishValentini Puffer and Bicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Saddleback ClownfishValentini Puffer and Red Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Yellow TangValentini Puffer and Yellow Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Helfrich's FirefishA shy long-finned firefish is a documented fin-nip victim of this puffer.Red Sea ClownfishValentini Puffer and Red Sea Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sailfin TangValentini Puffer and Sailfin Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple TangValentini Puffer and Purple Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Powder Blue TangValentini Puffer and Powder Blue Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.McCosker's Flasher WrasseFlasher wrasses’ extended fin filaments can tempt the Valentini’s fin-nipping, though these fast wrasses usually cope.Lubbock's Fairy WrasseA fairy wrasse’s long finnage can attract fin-nipping from the Valentini, particularly when the wrasse rests at night.Royal GrammaSmall grammas are listed among the passive fish a Valentini may harass; friction is size/personality-dependent.Matted FilefishValentini Puffer and Matted Filefish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple FirefishA timid, long-finned firefish is exactly the slow, flowing-finned type the Valentini nips.FirefishThe Valentini nips slow, long-finned fish; a firefish’s elongated dorsal filament is a target and it is easily bullied.