Care
The Pacific Crowned Pufferfish is a solitary dwarf species known from sheltered environments with sandy/rubble substrates adjacent to coral reefs. It inhabits waters from Japan to New South Wales, Australia, east to the Marshall Islands and Tonga, along with some records from Western Australia; at the Hawaiian Islands, this species is replaced by the similar looking Crowned Pufferfish (
C. coronata). A third, similar looking species,
C. cyanospilota is known from the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, and all three species together form what is referred to as the 'Coronata Complex'. Pacific Crowned Pufferfish feed on a wide variety of benthic organisms (including bivalves, brittle stars, bryozoans, crabs, foraminiferans, gastropods, heart urchins, polychaetes, sea urchins, sponges, and tunicates) and as such, are not suitable for reef aquaria. Instead, it is best maintained in a "œfish only, with live rock" set-up where it would pose no danger to corals, ornamental snails, shrimp and other small prized inverts. Tankmates should be chosen carefully; species with long fins should be avoided, as occasional puffer specimens will nip and leave their telltale circular holes in the fins. This behaviour is more likely to become apparent in small tanks, so adequate space must be given. Pacific Crowned Puffers should be kept singly, unless in a known mated pair, and even then, they should be watched carefully lest the male becomes too aggressive. Will fight with other members of the
Canthigaster genus. As with all pufferfish, it should never be deliberately provoked into inflating itself. When handling this fish, it is best to herd it into a container, rather than using a net and lifting the fish clear of the water where it may ingest air. May also be seen on sale as the Pacific Crowned Toby or Tonga Crowned Pufferfish.
Feeding
Offer a varied diet for omnivores. Meaty items should include krill, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, chopped cockle/ mussel/ hard-shelled shrimp/ squid/ fish/clam meat etc, and herbivore rations such Nori, vegetable matter etc. Browses on red and green filamentous algae, and devours many tiny critters found in the live rock (this action should help keep the beak worn down). Feed small amounts 3 times per day.
Breeding
This species has not been bred in captivity.
