MarineM

Valentini Puffer

Name: Valentini Puffer
Brand: Apex Aquatic
Price: 50.0 AUD
Availability: InStock

$50.00

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Every fish passes through our dedicated quarantine system and strict biosecurity monitoring before sale - so it arrives healthy, settled and ready to thrive. How we quarantine →

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Description

Biosecurity Shipping Limitations apply

Shipping Allowed?

Tasmania	YES
Western Australia	YES
Northern Territory	NO
All Other States	YES

About Valentini Puffer

The Valentini Puffer, also known as the Valentini Toby, is a small and beautifully patterned marine pufferfish featuring a cream and tan body covered with dark brown markings, blue lines and distinctive yellow accents. Its compact size and bold personality make it a popular choice for marine aquariums.

Unlike larger puffers, the Valentini Puffer can work well in appropriately sized reef and community systems. However, it is not completely reef safe and may nip at corals or prey upon small ornamental invertebrates.

They are intelligent, active and highly inquisitive fish that spend much of their time exploring rockwork. Provide plenty of caves and hiding places along with open swimming areas.

A varied diet containing mysis shrimp, chopped seafood, krill and hard-shelled foods is important. Shell-on foods and snails can help provide natural wear for their continuously growing teeth.

Quick Care Guide

Scientific Name: Canthigaster valentini
Common Name: Valentini Puffer / Valentini Toby / Saddle Valentini Puffer
Family: Tetraodontidae
Type: Marine Fish / Pufferfish
Adult Size: Approximately 10–11 cm
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Care Level: Intermediate
Minimum Aquarium: 100 L+
Temperature: Approximately 24–28°C
pH: Approximately 8.1–8.4
Salinity: Approximately 1.023–1.026 SG
Diet: Carnivore / Omnivore
Tank Level: All Levels
Reef Safe: With Caution
Suitable For: Marine Community and Reef Aquariums

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Valentini Puffer reef safe?

They are generally considered reef safe with caution. They may nip at certain corals and can prey on ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails and other small invertebrates.

How big does a Valentini Puffer get?

Adults typically reach around 10–11 cm, making them one of the more manageable pufferfish for home aquariums.

What do Valentini Puffers eat?

Offer a varied diet of mysis shrimp, chopped marine seafood, krill, quality frozen foods and hard-shelled foods. Snails and shell-on foods are useful for natural dental wear.

Are Valentini Puffers aggressive?

They can be semi-aggressive and territorial, particularly towards other puffers and similar-shaped fish. Carefully select tank mates.

Can I keep a Valentini Puffer with shrimp?

It is risky. Their natural feeding behaviour means small ornamental shrimp and other crustaceans may be hunted.

Do Valentini Puffers need live rock?

Live rock and established rockwork are highly beneficial. They provide hiding places, exploration opportunities and natural grazing surfaces.

Common Mistakes

Assuming they are completely reef safe
Although smaller than many puffers, they may still nip corals or eat ornamental invertebrates.

Keeping them with small shrimp
Small crustaceans can become prey.

Feeding only soft foods
Include hard-shelled foods to help maintain natural tooth wear.

Keeping multiple puffers together
Territorial behaviour can lead to serious aggression.

Providing too few hiding places
Rockwork with caves and crevices helps the fish establish a secure territory.

Overfeeding
Puffers are enthusiastic eaters and produce considerable waste for their size. Feed appropriately and maintain excellent filtration.

Shipping & delivery

Livestock is dispatched with heat/cool packs and oxygen from our Melbourne facility, timed for the safest transit. Live arrivals may be scheduled for the best shipping window. A live arrival guarantee applies - contact us within the required window if anything is not right.

Read our full shipping policy →

Returns

We stand behind everything we sell. If something is not right, get in touch and we will make it right. See our returns policy for the details.

Care & quarantine

This fish has been through our dedicated quarantine system and is feeding, settled and health-checked before sale. We still recommend acclimating slowly and quarantining new additions at home. Our team is happy to talk you through the right setup - just ask.

How we quarantine →