How big does Valentini Puffer get?

Valentini Puffer reaches an adult standard length of 8–11 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.

What water does Valentini Puffer need?

24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, 7–12 dGH, 7–9 dKH, specific gravity 1.023–1.026. That is only 3 °C wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.

What is the smallest tank for Valentini Puffer?

At least 150 L, and no shorter than 90 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.

What is Valentini Puffer like to keep?

Temperament: semi-aggressive. Difficulty: moderate. It occupies the all levels and is omnivore. Reef safety is "Not reef safe".

Can Valentini Puffer be kept with its most common tank mate?

The checker returns "Not recommended together". Valentini Puffer and Blue Cleaner Wrasse is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.

G-01 / 66Marine

Valentini Puffer瓦氏尖鼻鲀

Canthigaster valentini · Tetraodontidae

Small saddle-patterned puffer that nips corals and inverts; fish-only tanks only.

Illustration to come

G-01 / 66 · Valentini Puffer Canthigaster valentini

SpecificationsFish atlas

Name: 瓦氏尖鼻鲀
Scientific name: Canthigaster valentini
Family: Tetraodontidae
Origin: Indo-Pacific coral reefs
Adult size: 8–11 cm
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Water level: All levels
Level: Moderate
Min. tank: 150 L
Min. length: 90 cm
Reef safe: Not reef safe

Water requirementsMarine

Temp.24–27 °C

pH8.1–8.4

Salinity1.023–1.026 SG

Alkalinity7–9 dKH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Nips corals, sponges and tubeworms and eats snails and shrimp; not reef safe.
2Its teeth grow continuously; offer shelled shrimp, snails or clams to wear them down.
3Inflates when stressed; inflating in air can trap gas and is dangerous.
4Skin and viscera contain tetrodotoxin; wear gloves and never feed a dead one to pets.
5Chews hard objects and coral bases, so keep it away from soft tubing.

Check a tank mate

Jump straight to the verdict for Valentini Puffer against this one — no need to pick it again.

Frequently asked questions

How big does Valentini Puffer get?: Valentini Puffer reaches an adult standard length of 8–11 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.
What water does Valentini Puffer need?: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, 7–12 dGH, 7–9 dKH, specific gravity 1.023–1.026. That is only 3 °C wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.
What is the smallest tank for Valentini Puffer?: At least 150 L, and no shorter than 90 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.
What is Valentini Puffer like to keep?: Temperament: semi-aggressive. Difficulty: moderate. It occupies the all levels and is omnivore. Reef safety is "Not reef safe".
Can Valentini Puffer be kept with its most common tank mate?: The checker returns "Not recommended together". Valentini Puffer and Blue Cleaner Wrasse is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.