Valentini puffer
Canthigaster valentini · Tetraodontidae
Also known as Saddle valentini puffer, Black saddled toby
Intermediate
Small, endlessly curious puffer with a strong urge to nip fins, corals and inverts.
- Minimum tank
- 130 L
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Group size
- 1+
Will it fit your tank?
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Sign in to check my tanksReef & marine husbandry
- Specific gravity
- 1.023–1.026
- Reef safety
- Not reef safe
- With corals
- Nips LPS, soft corals and clams.
- With inverts
- Eats shrimp, snails and small crabs.
- Minimum in a mixed reef
- 200 L
- Minimum fish-only (FOWLR)
- 130 L
- Aggression
- Fin-nipper; keep with robust tank mates.
- Feeding
- Daily, with hard-shelled items.
Care requirements
- Minimum tank volume
- 130 L
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Hardness
- 8–12 dGH
- Lifespan
- 5–10 years
- Diet
- Carnivore — shelled shrimp, clam, krill; hard food keeps its teeth down.
- Care level
- Intermediate
Origin & habitat
- Native region
- Indo-Pacific
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Biotope
- Reef flats and lagoons
- Natural conditions
- Moderate flow, plenty of rock.
Behaviour & stocking
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Minimum group
- 1 fish
- Swims
- All levels
- Good tank mates
- TangsLarger wrassesHardy damsels
- Avoid
- Long-finned fishOrnamental shrimpReef tanks with LPS
Breeding & difficulty
- Breeding difficulty
- Advanced
- Sexing
- Males have brighter blue lines behind the eye.
- Notes
- Not bred at home.
- Common ailments
- Marine ichOvergrown teeth
