Stars and Stripes Puffer

Stars and Stripes Puffer is referred to as the Whitespotted Pufferfish, or Hispid Pufferfish. It is named appropriately because of its unusual markings of stripes over the top of the body and the spots on its underside making a very attractive and striking pattern. It also features a beak-like mouth that has teeth in both upper jaw as well as lower jaw, is fused into two plates. Like all other puffers, it can also inflate its body with water or air to intimidate predators.

Since the Stars and Stripes Puffer may eat invertebrates found in a reef tank, it is not well suited to the reef aquarium. It feeds on a variety of foods including algae, coral, sponges, starfish, mollusks, anemones, urchins and other invertebrates. The Stars and Stripes Puffer is nocturnal hunter just like other puffers, and would nip at slow-moving fish and long-finned fish, but is not aggressive with others in its own family. It is not at all reef safe species and should not be kept in a reef tank.

• Scientific Name: Arothron hispidus
• Origin: Indonesia, Fiji
• Food: krill, raw table shrimp, squid, clam and mussel. It is also a good idea to occasionally supplement with some type of herbivore diet.
• Shipping Size: 2 to 4 inches