Spiny Box Puffer (Chilomycterus schoepfi)

The Spiny Burr Puffer, Chilomycterus schoepfi, also referred to as the Spiney Box Puffer, features a tan to yellow body adorned with dark spots and is equipped with short, fixed spines for protection against larger, more aggressive fish. Its teeth form a beak-like structure.

For housing, this species is best suited to a fish-only aquarium of 180 gallons or more, with ample space for swimming. It tends to nip at slow-moving and long-finned fish, though it generally isn’t aggressive towards other members of its family. It’s known to feed on invertebrates typically found in reef tanks.

A diverse diet is crucial for the Spiny Box Puffer, including meaty foods such as squid, krill, clams, and hard-shelled shrimp, which are necessary to keep its continuously growing teeth in check.