Spiny Box Puffer
Chilomycterus schoepfii
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
|---|
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Expert |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Semi-Aggressive |
| Reef Safe | No |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 180 gallons |
| Max Size | 10 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Spiny Box Puffer (Chilomycterus schoepfii) is a burrfish from the porcupinefish family with short, fixed spines and a tan-to-yellow body marked by darker striping and spots. It has fused, beak-like teeth built for crunching hard, meaty foods. In the aquarium trade it’s also commonly listed under “burrfish” or “Web Burrfish.”
What You’ll Observe:
- Cruises the mid-water and pauses to hover near rockwork, often returning to the same lookout spot
- Tracks activity outside the glass and learns a consistent feeding routine in the first few weeks
- Uses strong jaw action to crack and chew, leaving small shell fragments after meals
- May inflate briefly during netting or handling, then resumes normal swimming once settled
Provide open swimming room with sturdy rockwork and strong filtration suited for meaty feeding. Offer a varied carnivore menu—squid, krill, clams, and hard-shelled shrimp—cut to bite size and presented with feeding tongs so it can target each piece. With consistent feeding times and confident tankmates, it becomes a highly interactive centerpiece for a fish-only display.
How do I get a Spiny Box Puffer to take frozen foods instead of live foods?
Start with strong-scent foods like shrimp, clam, or silverside on a feeding stick and add gentle movement. Once it strikes reliably, rotate in other frozen meaty options.
Is it normal for a Spiny Box Puffer to hover in one area for long periods?
Yes—many settle into a favorite “parking” spot where they watch the room and wait for feeding time. As it gets comfortable, you’ll usually see more cruising laps.
Do they really spit water at you?
Some learn to jet water at the surface when they see you, especially near their usual feeding time. It’s a learned interaction and often stops once food goes in.
Can I keep it with other puffers or predator-style fish?
They’re often kept with other robust species when everyone has clear personal space and a predictable feeding routine. Target-feeding helps each fish get its share without rushing.
What’s the easiest way to avoid finger-nips during feeding time?
Use long feeding tongs and offer one piece at a time in front of the fish, then remove the tool after the bite. Keeping a consistent “feeding zone” helps it anticipate where food appears.
Shipped with pure oxygen and temperature control so it arrives stress-free and ready to eat.
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