Description

The Stars & Stripes Puffer is tan with white spots that resemble stars, and the bottom half has horizontal stripes. When choosing tank mates be sure to pick other semi aggressive fish that can stand up to the puffer, so small, timid fish like cardinals or gobies are not the best tank mates. Aggression can be amplified in smaller tanks. This puffer is not considered reef safe as they prefer to snack on sessile invertebrates. Since they have sharp beaklike teeth, provide a diet with shelled items and meaty food to help prevent the beak from getting overgrown. Cautionary note, all puffers have teeth and can easily chew any wires that are in their reach in the aquarium. Puffers will inflate their body when threatened, so to prevent this try using a container when transferring the fish instead of a net. The Stars & Stripes lacks pelvic fins and mostly depends on their pectoral fins to move around. They will grow to be over a foot in size, so adults will need 180 gallons.

• - Add to an aquarium with ample swimming room
• - Not reef safe
• - Needs semi-aggressive tank mates
• - For continued health, provide a varied diet of meaty foods, such as chopped seafood, multiple times a day. Should be fed foods with a shell to wear down their teeth
• - Approximate selling size: Small/Medium 1.5"-2.25"; Medium 2.25"-3.25"; Medium/Large 3.25"-4.25"